Geraldine "Jerri" Elaine Cartwright

Our beloved Geraldine Elaine Cartwright, better known by her nickname Jerri, passed into the arms of Jesus on July 18, 2022, but not before she celebrated two major milestones: her 80th birthday and 65th wedding anniversary. She was born February 3, 1942 to Bascal Earl & Veryl Condra.

In 1957, Jerri married James W. Cartwright and lived out “standing by her man” like the song she claimed as her ballad for him. The young couple worked together at the Tee Pee Restaurant until it was time to start a family. Then Jerri stayed home to raise their 3 young children and support Jimmy with the new family business: Cartwright Trucking. To their surprise and delight, a 4th baby came along more than a decade later. She continued working from home raising the kids and building the business.

Family meant the world to Jerri. She had endless creativity and made everything special. Whether it was Friday night pizza and popcorn at the drive-in or card games, campouts at the lake, birthday pool parties, or holidays, time with her husband and kids was most precious to her. Nothing gave her greater joy at gatherings than to have everyone circled together in her family room for prayer before a meal. With tears, she thanked Jesus for His sacrifice, for bringing them all together and asked Him to bless those who weren’t present. You could often catch her just sitting back and observing family interaction, relishing the moments. Her face lit up in the presence of her family, and she lived for the laughter of children.

Through the years, Jerri found joy in traveling, especially if it included water. It started simply with camping and boating on the Ohio River or Dale Hollow Lake and it grew into taking international trips. Making friends easily, she developed relationships boating that withstood the test of time and distance. In retirement, her travels with Jimmy increased. They even set foot on both the top of the world at Barrow, Alaska and the bottom of the world at Ushuaia, Argentina. Some of her favorite adventures included traveling Route 66, visiting the Ponderosa, scuba diving in Hawaii, climbing the Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, walking the streets of Ephesus, taking a gondola ride in Venice, riding camels on the beach in Australia, ziplining across the Amazon River, and jump dancing with the Maasai warriors in Kenya. She bounced as hard as she laughed.

She collected driftwood, shells, and geodes, as well as nostalgic, rare, and comical pieces on her journeys. She filled her home with them to create an atmosphere of fun and intrigue for young and old. She surrounded herself with memorabilia to bring a smile and tell her story. Her favorite story being the good news of Jesus. Jerri attended The Creek Christian Church. Retirement allowed her more time to devote herself to studying her Bible and the groups she joined became a tender source of encouragement, especially as she battled cancer the last few years.

Jerri was a beautiful Wife, Mom, and Mamaw. If you knew her, you knew love. She adored her family and friends, and they adored her. Her door was always open for a visit that likely would have included a sweet treat, a ride to the lake, a swim in the pool, a song from the jukebox, and a parting gift of some playful trinket. She always made time for visitors, and they left her house feeling like family.

Adoring family that will miss Jerri desperately are her husband, Jim Cartwright; children Jeff and Juli Cartwright, Jeff and Jina (Cartwright) Lancaster, Pebbles (Cartwright) Wethington, Matt and Jamie (Cartwright) Thompson; 14 grandchildren Jamie and Cassie Druelinger, Josh and Carly Hepler, Stacey Cartwright, Samantha Cartwright, Ellie, Kate, Jenna and Madeline Thompson, Evan and Leah Lancaster, Macy Simrell, and Megan Koers; 13 great grandchildren Sophie, Zoe, Cash, Beck, Liv, Lo, Brooklyn, Laine, Luke, Seth, Kiley, Maddox and Tilly; siblings Don and Berta Condra, Sonny Condra, Jean Houston, Tommy Cartwright; and many nieces and nephews.

Though our hearts are broken, we don’t grieve as those without the hope of knowing we will see her again. Her greatest desire was that her loved ones would know Jesus and, as she expressed in some of her last words, “find me” in Heaven.

Visitation for Jerri will be held Friday, July 22, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Little & Sons Funeral Home, 4901 E Stop Eleven Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46237. Her Funeral Service will he held at 11:00 AM at the funeral home with burial to follow in Acton Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.littleandsonsindianapolis.com for the Cartwright family.