For over 47 Years, Bealer Helped in Growth of the Foundation

Anyone who has ever had a question about the Pendleton Foundation Trust knows that Jerri Bealer had all of the answers.

Jerri served the Foundation since 1976. She started working for attorney Steve Corey the year before, and it wasn’t long before she became involved with the Foundation activities. Steve was serving as legal secretary to the Foundation and continued until 1998. Jerri then worked with attorney Alex Byler and then Henry Lorenzen when they became the PFT legal secretaries.

Jerri and her husband, Jim, came to Pendleton from Southern California in 1975. With a background which included working as a bank general ledger bookkeeper, mortgage loan processor and escrow officer for private businesses, Jerri was well qualified to assist PFT.
In her role she kept track of bank investments, records and donations, filed charitable returns, managed the application process and distributed the grants given by the Foundation. Her job grew as the Foundation grew.  Jerri was elected as Secretary of the Board of Directors in April 2004.

“It took a while for the Pendleton Foundation Trust to be able to make substantial gifts, but as it has grown, it is pretty exciting to see the variety of ways that donors are finding to contribute to the Foundation,” Jerri noted. In addition to memorials, creative donations have been made to honor people who have reached retirement, have served as a favorite teacher, and have celebrated a birthday. One donation was a tribute for a retiring post master and another was in celebration by a new business that was opening in Pendleton. She added that some donations have been made in appreciation of a project funded by PFT. Others have donated annuities, life insurance policies and estates.

For over 47 years Jerri has watched changes that the Pendleton Foundation Trust has made. “I think that the original Foundation founders would be very pleased with the progress PFT has made “ she said.

In July of 2024 a reception was held to honor her work and thank Jerri as she stepped down from her role at the Foundation. The board members are very appreciative of the assistance Jerri has given to help the Foundation grow to level it has.

The Bealers raised two daughters, Jamie and Juliann, in Pendleton. Jim and Jerri live north of Pendleton where they can enjoy their horses—time permitting.