Beverly June Gerding (Haller) left this life to be with her Lord and Savior on February 25, 2022 after a lengthy battle with old age. She is preceded in death by her parents, Arnold William Rose Gerding and Helene Catherine Eisenhauer Gerding; her sisters, Helen Franz, Phyllis Pulse, Marilyn Kuk and Dorothy Juell; her former husband Joseph Haller Jr. and her son Joseph Haller III.
She is survived by her brother Don A. Gerding; children Judith A. Haller, Susan Kathryn Haller Kucera (Mark) and Richard W. Haller; grandsons Daniel J. Kucera (Carolyn) and Steven R. Kucera; several nieces and nephews, as well as her long-time friend and former neighbor, Joy Couch; and of course, her companion and source of endless entertainment, Buddy the parakeet.
She was born in Ottawa, Illinois on November 4, 1924 and grew up during the Great Depression. Her mother lost her first opportunity to vote in a presidential election, because she was busy giving birth.
She and her sisters were talented singers; the Gerding Sisters often sang on the radio. Bev also was a passable pianist, and enjoyed dabbling with various musical instruments. She earned the nickname “Windy” for her speed in track at Ottawa Township High School, where she graduated in 1943. As a young woman, she moved to Chicago where she held various secretarial positions and met a dashing sailor in the Navy Officer’s Training School.
Once married, she lived in MA, MI, IN, MO and eventually (since 1965) in Houston, TX. She was devoted to her family, keeping a tidy house (during the era of line-dried laundry and ironed bedsheets) and home-cooked meals on the table. She could stretch a dollar better than just about anyone.
She was a devout Christian, and read the Bible from beginning to end at least three times.
Bev often said God made her body with spare parts. The opposite was true for her vast array of talents, as she was an expert seamstress, needle worker, painter, carpenter, interior decorator, portrait artist, wallpaper hanger, and handywoman extraordinaire. She made all her daughters’ clothes, made drapes, upholstered furniture, and repaired plumbing. She had an impressive power tool collection. She often said she was happiest with a paintbrush in her hand, and enjoyed giving cast-offs new life with a coat of paint. She enjoyed used her sewing skills to benefit others, such as sewing hospital volunteer uniforms, school choir dresses, plus-sized clothing for underprivileged women, and many, many other things.
For several years, she served as a Pink Lady volunteer at the old Sam Houston Hospital.
Later in life Bev took up quilting and made many exquisite quilts entirely by hand, with perfect, tiny quilting stitches. She was a master at basting quilt layers together to prepare them for being quilted, eagerly sharing her skills and knowledge with other quilters in the Greater Houston Quilt Guild. She was honored to be made their first life member in recognition of her contributions to the Guild. One of her proudest accomplishments was obtaining US Patent # US4549366A on an innovative needlework stand. Unfortunately, the stand was only marketed locally, not on a mass scale.
For several decades, and until she was 95 years old, she served as Bookkeeper for Houston Pool Service. She gave that up only due to failing eyesight.
Although very reserved and dignified, she had a playful sense of humor which she never lost. She was a writer of corny poems. A life-sized stuffed doll in the form of an old lady she named “Grandma Nosus” took up residence in her house, and had many silly adventures, popping up in unexpected places.
We miss you, Mom, but we’re happy you’re at peace and out of the pain you endured for so many years.
The family would like to thank Dr. Muffadal Morkas, Dr. Anil Thaker, and Dr. Erin Doe for their outstanding care, as well as Anna Woodside for her friendship, invaluable assistance , care and dedication for the past year.
There will be celebration of Bev’s life on Sunday March 27, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Waltrip Funeral Home, 1415 Campbell Rd, Houston, TX 77055. Consider wearing something blue or green, Bev’s favorite colors. For those wishing to remember Bev with a donation, please consider The Salvation Army or Smile Train, two of her favorite causes, or a charity of your choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.waltripfuneraldirectors.com for the Gerding family.
