Geraldine Smith Thompson

Geraldine Smith Thompson July 8, 1923 - February 26, 2007 With great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved Geraldine "Jerry" Smith Thompson, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. Jerry passed away on the evening of February 26, 2007, surrounded by her loving family, after a short, but fierce battle with glioblastoma. Jerry was born in Covington, Texas on July 8, 1923, to Della Cowley Smith and Robert Chapman Smith. She was raised in Covington and attended Covington schools where she excelled in women's athletics as a star basketball player and ultimately graduated valedictorian of her class in 1940. She left Covington in the fall of 1940 to attend the University of Texas where she pledged Alpha Delta Phi, lived at Scottish Rite Dormitory, studied to become a teacher, and met her future husband, Charles, on a blind date. As a child, her upbringing was one of modest means, and she always took great pride in having had the opportunity to attend The University of Texas. Her heart was filled with gratitude that her parents made it possible for her to earn a degree in Education. Her devotion to the University of Texas sports program continued until her death. She loved women's basketball and always attended the games until her illness prevented her from doing so. She received so much pleasure watching the teams excel. The University of Texas Longhorns and Lady Longhorns were always her teams of choice. Jerry and Chuck were married on July 28, 1944, in Coral Gables, Florida. This year would have marked their 63rd anniversary! We recognize and commend our parents for a life of devotion to one another. Throughout our lives they have set the most beautiful example of what a marriage should be, and we feel honored to have had them both as parents. From this union four daughters were born: Kay (1950); Janet (1958); and Nancy and Susan (1962). After Chuck and Jerry married, they made their home in Blooming Grove, Texas, where Jerry's parents lived. Jerry taught 3rd grade and was recently honored by alumni as one of the most outstanding teachers of all time. Though she eventually moved to bigger cities, she never lost that small town Texas charm. Jerry was the salt-of-the-earth! Soon thereafter, Chuck and Jerry decided to move to Port Arthur, following their very dear friends, Roy and Marge Felder; Roy was a Methodist Minister, and Jerry and Chuck and Roy and Marge were best friends. Together these incredible people grew a fine congregation and a church called Aldersgate United Methodist. Jerry got a job with Hayes, Inc., and spent a large part of her career in hotel-motel management. After approximately 45 years in Port Arthur, Jerry and Chuck moved to Austin where she was an integral part of establishing the Waller Creek Hotel at 6th and IH-35, also initially owned by the Hayes family. Jerry was naturally good with people, and took pride in her relationships with others. She had the uncanny ability to win people over. She was a very business-minded woman, and her daughters frequently told people that their mother was born a generation too soon. Jerry had an innate ability to know what it took to make a business successful, and she worked hard at it, and succeeded. Her relationship with the Hayes family continued until her death. Jerry retired in 1990, and spent much of her time helping others. She was a very loving, kind, and generous woman, always wanting to help her children and her grandchildren and her friends. Jerry loved her family, immediate and extended, very much. The things we loved about her the most were her convictions to do what was right, to be kind to others, and to be honest. These lessons, though not always easy ones to learn, are the ones that will stay with us forever. Her children and her grandchildren could not have asked for a better role model. We had the best in her! One other passion of hers worth mentioning was her love for the Cayman Islands. In 1979 she and Janet took a trip there and the next thing we knew, we were all hooked. She loved it! Chuck and Jerry have had a home there since about that time and our whole family has many fond memories of being there with her and enjoying the good times. We also want to acknowledge all the great friends from around the U.S. that she met there... know in your hearts that you were all special to her, she valued your friendships greatly. Jerry leaves several precious family members to mourn her loss, first Chuck, her loving and devoted husband of more than 62 years, Kay and husband Sam, Janet and husband Jim, Nancy and husband Kelly, and Susan. She also leaves nine cherished grandchildren: Charisse, Sarah, Robert, Lindsay, Trace, Abby, Randall, Jack and Julia. Jerry had many cousins who loved her dearly and will mourn her loss: Mary Brockette, Claude and Bennie Brockette, Mary Ruth Cruise, and Marge Cowan, as well as many others. Jerry was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Smith. She was an incredible lady and we will all miss her dearly. We will carry on her love of family in all that we do. The family wishes to thank the following physicians and care-givers for their care of our mom: Dr. David George, Dr. Hari Tumu, Dr. Douglas Rivera, Dr. David Ramirez, Hospice of Austin, specifically Alice Jefferson, RN, and the loving caregivers from the Angel Home Health Care Agency, namely Chassity Johnson and Helen Casillas. Thank you all for taking the best care of our mom that you could possibly do. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home on N. Lamar. Funeral services will be held at Tarrytown United Methodist Church on Thursday, March 1st at 10:30 a.m. and burial immediately following at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive. The family asks that in lieu of flowers contributions be made in memory of Geraldine Smith Thompson to the Covington Cemetery Perpetual Care Association, P. O. Box 132, Covington, Texas 76636, for the community cemetery where many of mom's loved ones are buried, or Hospice Austin, Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78759. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com