Geraldine "Gerry" Merrill Jacobs, 87 of Rexburg, died Sunday, October 21, 201 of complications from a stroke. She was surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 4, 1925 in Preston, Idaho to Orrin Preston Merrill and Alice May Stephenson. She attended schools in Preston until her senior year when she was admitted to the University of Idaho on a special program initiated during World War II. During her college years she was very active in student government, theater, debate and Lambda Delta Sigma. She was also selected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society. She graduated with high honors from the University in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

On August 14, 1946 she was married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple to Frank Harris Jacobs who had recently returned from serving three years of active duty in World War II.

Geraldine was the director of the Madison Library District for many years and was heavily involved in building of the current library following the flood of 1976. During this time she also worked with the Idaho State Library in assisting small libraries and opening up new public libraries in the Southeastern Region. She served as president of the Idaho Library Association and was honored as Outstanding Librarian of the Year. She retired from her position at the library she loved in 1987.

After retirement, she and Frank spent their winter months in Kauai, Hawaii and their summers in Island Park at the family cabin. Later she spent several winters in St. George, Utah.

She loved to travel and enjoyed several trips to Europe and also traveled to Canada, Mexico and throughout the United States.

She had many interests and hobbies including quilting, handwork and especially her life-long joy of reading. She was involved in several book clubs, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and Civic Club. Above all she loved her church and family. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions in both ward and stake level. She especially enjoyed serving with her husband as ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls Temple. In her later years she enjoyed doing Indexing in the Family Search Program.

Leaving a posterity of over one hundred, she remained close to them all and loved having them in her home for family parties and gatherings. She especially loved Christmas and made it a magical time for her family. She will be remembered for her cheerful, loving personality and her infectious laugh.

She is survived by her children, Marilyn (Darwin) Fife of Rigby, Mitch (Valynn) Jacobs of Hamer, Kris (Rich) Powell of Rexburg, Kathy Rasmussen of Rexburg and Kirk (Linda) Jacobs of Hamer, as well as 29 grandchildren and 59 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank, her parents, four brothers, two sisters and a grandson.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 26, 2012 at the Harvest Hills LDS Chapel, 612 S Hidden Valley Road, the corner of Millhollow and 7th S, in Rexburg. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Flamm Funeral Home and again from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment will be in the Rexburg Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Madison County Library to the Geraldine Jacobs Memorial.