Geraldine Lively

Raised in the Gulf Oil camp, Gerry was the youngest of six children. She spent her early years in Pelly attending Sam Houston Elementary. She also played outside with all the kids in the camp, and especially her special friend, Gloria Grant, who also lived in the camp. She became a Christian at age 9 while at Central Baptist Church in Pelly, Tx. Gerry attended Horace Mann Junior High and Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown through the 10th grade, where she played coronet in the band.

Following her father’s death in 1949, she moved with her mother and sister, Doris, to Reid Street in Houston, Tx in June of 1950. She joined Trinity Baptist Church and was active with the high school youth. In May 1952, she graduated from Jefferson Davis High School and went to work at Houston Transit. Gerry, her mother Carrie and sister, Doris moved to Spring Branch in 1953. They joined First Baptist Church of Spring Branch where Gerry enjoyed working with primary-age children and singing in the choir. She also enjoyed traveling with her mother and nieces and nephews.

In October 1954, Gerry began working at Humble Oil in downtown Houston, beginning in the mail room delivering mail and then transferring to the Treasury Department. She advanced to supervisor of Receipts and Disbursements, where she would sign many payroll and commercial checks for the company. She remained in this position for 32 years, even when the company merged with Exxon Mobil in 1973. In her free time, Gerry played lots of sports including softball and bowling.

Gerry took early retirement in 1986 and moved to Palestine, Tx near her sister, Doris and Brother-in-law, Paten. She joined Southside Baptist Church in Palestine, Tx, where she was very active in the choir and single adult class. She loved participating in the church’s activities of ‘church building’ and community ministry. While in her retirement years, she enjoyed gardening and working outdoors, and always had a loyal dog by her side. She also loved taking trips to Disney with many of the nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She always had a camera in hand and enjoyed her photography. Her photo books are all carefully labeled with names and details.

Christmas was a favorite holiday of Gerry’s and she would spend the whole year searching out special gifts for each of her nieces and nephews. She also enjoyed crafting and making ornaments and decorative gifts for everyone at the Lively Christmas Party each year. Easter was also a favorite holiday and she would fill hundreds of eggs with candy for the kids to hunt after the BBQ lunch. She loved any party and was always present at birthdays, shower parties, and graduations.

Gerry was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Carrie Lively, brothers Earl, Coy, Granville, and Truitt Lively; nephew Larry Bell; brother-in-law, Paten Bell; nieces Monty Kay Heinrich, Judy DeLoach and Ruth Ann Bradley.

She will be lovingly remembered by her sister, Doris Bell; sister-in-law, Barbara Lively; nieces and nephews, Marilyn Pearson, Angelia Wahrenberger, Sandy Hoiden, Cheryl Currey, John David Lively, Iris Story, Donna Evans, Tommy Bell, Tricia Campos, Robin Lively, Michael Lively, and Susan Boatman; as well as many great and great-great nieces and nephews, church friends, and especially childhood friend and prayer warrior, Gloria (Grant) Murdock.

A visitation/reception for Gerry will be held Friday, September 3, 2021 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at Forest Park - The Woodlands Funeral Home, 18000 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384.

A Celebration of Life service at Forest Park – The Woodlands will immediately follow beginning at 12:00pm, Pastor David English of Southside Baptist Church, Palestine, presiding.

A committal service will occur Friday, September 3, 2021 from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM at San Jacinto Memorial Park Cemetery, 14659 East Frwy, Houston, TX 77015.

Charitable Donations may be made in Gerry’s honor to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.