Gerri Forehand

THEBES, Ill. -- Geraldean "Gerri" Forehand, 84, of Thebes died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, surrounded by family, at SSM Health St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, Missouri.

She was born July 10, 1932, in Thebes to Bert and Alberta Holshouser. She married Ernest "Ernie" Forehand on Nov. 10, 1956.

They lived in East St. Louis, Illinois, before raising four children in Cahokia, Illinois. After Ernie's retirement, they returned to the family farm in Thebes in 1991. Ernie and Gerri enjoyed 58 beautiful years of marriage before his death in September 2015.

A devoted caregiver from childhood, Gerri helped raise her eight younger brothers and sisters.

She was a nurturing stay-at-home mother and nurse's aide at a Cahokia nursing home.

She cared for Ernie as his health declined and, more recently, her fellow residents at St. Andrew's at Francis Place nursing home in Eureka, Missouri.

Gerri enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing and gardening -- all hobbies that brought joy to not only her, but also those around her.

Family vacations to Minnesota were some of Gerri's most treasured memories.

Each summer, Ernie and Gerri hosted the annual "Kuzins Camp," when all eight grandchildren met at the farm to spend a week together. Her grandchildren will carry the valuable life lessons they learned there for the rest of their lives.

Gerri's great-granddaughters added even more joy to her life as she has watched them grow.

Gerri was a longtime member of Maplewood Park Baptist Church in Cahokia and, later, East Cape Baptist Church in East Cape Girardeau, Illinois.

Her unwavering faith in the Lord led her to lead Sunday school, teach vacation Bible school, coordinate the church nursery and participate in Woman's Missionary Union projects.

Survivors include her two sons, Randall Forehand of Thebes and Bradley Todd (Rhonda) Forehand of Columbia, Illinois; two daughters, Cindy (Ed) Lahue of Byrnes Mill, Missouri, and Janice Hickman of Arnold, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Karley (Shaun) Phillips, Brittany (Daniel) Olsen, Samantha (David) Devine, Ashley (fiance, Lucas Wilhite) Lahue, Ryan Forehand, Allison Hickman, Emily Forehand and Kyle Hickman; three great-granddaughters, Kennedi, Kyleigh and Kaylor Phillips; two sisters, Doris Snell of Gale, Illinois, and Barbara (Kenneth) Verble of Wolf Lake, Illinois; and two brothers, Lennis (Jackie) Holshouser of Bloomingdale, Georgia, and Douglas (Rita) Holshouser of Marble Hill, Missouri.

Gerri was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Rachel Lahue; her parents, Bert and Alberta Holshouser; two sisters, Lois Holshouser and Ruth Orick; and three brothers, Lloyd, Kenneth and David Holshouser.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The Rev. Donny Ford will officiate. Burial will follow at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure, Illinois.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.