Gelda Lee McElroy

Gelda’s early life began in the oil patches of Texas and Oklahoma. Her Dad worked for an oil company that required him to travel to the oil booming areas and establish company headquarters before the field workers arrived to begin drilling. At times he would go ahead of the family, leaving his wife and children behind for a short period. Once he secured living quarters for the family, they would follow. Gelda had four brothers who were the first loves of her life and all four called her “Sissy”. She graduated from high school in Odessa, Texas where her Dad and Mom were living at the time. During high school she found enjoyment in cooking and sewing. Both played a big part in later life as she became a master seamstress providing clothes for herself, her family and friends.

In 1939 she met the love of her life, Henry McElroy, during his college years. They were married September 15, 1940. For 69 years they worked together, cared for one another, and whispered sweet memories to each other. They lived in the Houston area after his college graduation and began their family with the birth of the first of three sons in 1942. In 1948 they moved to Pasadena, Texas where she was a stay-at-home Mom and became very active in the school district PTA. After all three boys were in school she secured a position in administration in the Personnel office of the Pasadena Independent School District.

Henry and Gelda loved to travel and vacations were special through their many years. They would pack the car with pots and pans, ice chest, tents, cots and the three boys and head to all directions of the country. Gelda provided the boys with wonderful memories of travel. Many of the weekends and holidays were filled with traveling to relatives’ homes where there was always a washer or horseshoe game by day for the men and boys and straight dominoes or 42 in the evenings for all. And, of course, stories were told of times gone by.

When her sons left home Gelda spent more time with her church activities and supporting Henry with his 42 years as a Gideon. In 1981 both Henry and Gelda retired and moved to Buda, Texas to be closer to the boys. They purchased a travel trailer and spent many days traveling across the country. When at home she enjoyed time with her hobbies of ceramic crafts, sewing, embroidering, knitting, quilting and needle point until her diagnoses with Alzheimer’s in April 2011 at the age of 90. She was a longtime member of Bannockburn Baptist Church.

Thanks Mom, We Love You!

Gelda is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Henry McElroy and parents. She will be sadly missed by sons, Ron & wife Z, Leigh & wife Patsy, and Larry & wife Josie; grandchildren, Brent & wife Anne, Brett & wife Janea, Kevin, Travis, Toby & wife Christi, and John & wife Tonya; niece, Frances Anne Duderstadt and nephew, Bob Johnston; thirteen great-grandchildren; and many beloved friends.

Many thanks to Cedar Ridge Alzheimer’s And Special Care Center and to Gentiva Hospice-Georgetown. And last, but far from least, Mindy Bernhardt. If not for her tireless help and support during this overwhelming journey it would have been even more difficult.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Monday, July 13, 2015 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Graveside Services will be at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at Onion Creek Memorial Park with Pastor Gregory Grant officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Capitol of Texas Chapter 3520, Executive Center Drive, Suite #140, Austin, Texas 78731, 512-241-0420.