Gertrude Stinson

Gertrude Stinson, of Oletha, passed away Thursday, April 7, 2011, at the Limestone Medical Center, at age 94. Visitation will be Saturday, April 9, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 10, 2011, at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Johnny Layton and Reverend Bill Sutton officiating. Burial will follow at the Thornton cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jack Thompson, Jason Myers, John Turner, Bill Turner, Edward Hosea, and Eugene Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Brown, Mack Jones, John Thompson, Bill Sadler, Edward Hancock, and Robert Hancock. Gertrude was born December 18, 1916 to Dave Thurman and Jessie Lee Morgan Thurman in Limestone County. She attended school at Independence (near Oletha.) Her father died when she was twelve, and she was raised to work helping the family. Gertrude was united in marriage with Marvin Stinson on April 14, 1933 and they lived all their lives at Oletha, where they farmed, and raised cattle in addition to his job. Gertrude was a member of Eastern Star at Thornton while her health permitted. She was a vital and important member of the community, including her work as the Election Judge at Oletha and Old Union for fifty years. She personally delivered the ballot boxes to the courthouse in Groesbeck even when she was in her eighties. She was a dedicated member of the Oletha Baptist Church and as the wife of a deacon, she loved to be of service. She was always first on hand with food when there was a need. When Mr. Stinson passed away in 1987, they had been married for fifty-four years and 22 days. For the last eight years, Gertrude had resided in the Limestone LTC Nursing Home in Groesbeck, where she was an avid Bingo player, and read her Bible daily even until the last day there. She loved her family, and always asked about all of them as soon as anyone visited her. She lived a worthy Christian life for ninety-four years. Mrs. Stinson was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and all of her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Marvis and Bill Hancock of Oletha; and four grandchilden, Debbie and David Myers of Omaha, NE, Ronald and Monica Hancock of Angleton, David and Dana Hancock of Angleton, and Renee and Luis Mercado of Angleton; also ten great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.