Memorial services for Garlan Gerdes, 66, of Giddings are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at the Lee County Sheriff’s Posse Arena located at 2591 West Highway 290 in Giddings. Pastor Kevin Mahr of the Cowboy Church of Lee County will officiate.
Garlan Don Gerdes was born on June 21, 1947 in Bryan, Texas to Garwood Jennings & Ruby Lee (Wolz) Gerdes. He graduated from Giddings High School in 1966 and was united in marriage to Sherry Myers on October 8, 2007 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Garlan was a rancher who enjoyed everything ranching entailed. He was a true “Texas Cowboy” who was always willing to lend a hand to those in need. He enjoyed reading and valued the time that he was given to spend with his family. His daily Facebook postings brought smiles and laughter to his many friends and his views of life during the last few months of his illness inspired those around him to realize the true importance of family and friends and to get the most out of every single day we are given.
Garlan passed away the evening of Wednesday, October 9, 2013 surrounded by his family at his home in Giddings following a valiant battle with cancer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Garwood & Ruby Gerdes.
Garlan is survived by his wife, Sherry Gerdes of Giddings; his three children, Merritt Stokley of Round Rock, Jill McMaster & her husband, Mike of Hutto and Garwood Jason Gerdes of New Boston; his step-son, Jacob Zoch of Bryan; his five grandchildren, Jensyn Nicole Reeves of Hutto, Garson Cade Gerdes of Giddings, Gracyn McKenna McMaster of Hutto, Kyle Jaxon Stokley of Round Rock and Dylan Grace Stokley of Round Rock; his sister, Betty Kubesch & her husband, Ron of Giddings; his brothers, Gary Gerdes & his wife, Dorothey of Giddings and Gardan Gerdes & his wife, Cindy of Burnet; his nieces and nephews, Tina Little & her husband, David, Lee Gerdes & his wife, Gail, Stacy Brown & her husband, Kelvin, Cameron Kubesch & his wife, Jill, Courtney Calmbach & her husband, Ricky, Cara Eubank & her husband, Jeff, Will Gerdes, Landis Lehmann & his wife, Cindy, Nathaniel Myers and Jason Fry & his wife, Rebecca; parents-in-law, Al & Janet Myers of Webberville, Michigan; sister-in-law, Debby Fry of Houston; brother-in-law, Dan Myers & his wife, Annie of Dansville, Michigan as well as other extended family members and many friends.
In keeping with Garlan’s final wishes of being able to help others struggling with cancer as well as to have his church build a new worship center, the Gerdes family requests that memorials be made to the Lee County Cancer Resource Center, 165 West Austin Street, Giddings, Texas 78942 or to the Building Fund at the Cowboy Church of Lee County, P.O. Box 133, Lexington, Texas 78947.
