MARION "GERRY" COLLINS EARNEST

Gerry, was called home to be with the Lord on January 31, 2025. She is survived by her husband Clyde; three wonderful children Steve, Trish, and Bill; their spouses Vada, Tom Mehrkam, and Marcia; three loving grandchildren Shelly, Steve Jr., and Celine-Marie; and six beautiful great grandchildren. There are also nieces, other family members, and many great and true friends.

Gerry was born in Marietta, Georgia on May 4, 1931 to Leonard Augustus Collins and Susie Mae Hawkins Collins. She had an older brother, Leonard, and a younger sister, Marla. They lived in various East coast towns ending in Richmond, Virginia in her teens where she met her future husband Clyde Talley Earnest Jr. Clyde was in the Army Corps of Engineers and proposed before departing for the Korean War zone. After his return, they were married July 24, 1954 in Richmond, Virginia. They would go on to celebrate over 70 years of a wonderful life together. Gerry spent 20 years as an Army wife, moving when required and establishing a new set of friends for the family. She always found time to do her things. She was very active in the Red Cross as a volunteer at many posts, especially as a dental assistant which she trained for. She earned several 1000 hour certificates. Gerry loved to cook and entertain. She chaired ladies groups in West Point and the Canal Zone that published cookbooks.

Clyde retired from the Army in 1973 and worked as a civil engineer for another19 years. They traveled extensively during this time and lived in Atlanta, Redwood City California, Taipei and Montgomery Texas. This was an entirely new way of life for Gerry. The comradeship of the army disappeared and she had to work harder at making friends. And the nest quickly emptied leaving time to be filled. In Atlanta, Gerry became very involved with The Friendship Force International, a foreign exchange group in which President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Roslyn, were leaders. She started a successful club in California earning her Volunteer of the Year Award in 1990 and making the keynote address at the 1990 Asian Annual Friendship Force Conference in Hong Kong. While in California, Gerry saw an article about the local college course for travel agents. Always ready for something new, she signed up and worked as a business travel consultant for several years. She continued by volunteering to organize shopping trips to Seoul for the Woman's Group in Taipei and cruises for the Men's Club in April Sound. During this time Gerry switched from social bridge to the more competitive duplicate bridge.

Clyde and Gerry moved to April Sound in 1992. All three children lived in the Houston area, so April Sound was a perfect fit. Probably her favorite endeavor was competitive bridge with the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). She became an accredited ACBL teacher and an accredited ACBL Director (who runs the games and rules on questions). She taught in many places, especially in April Sound and on cruise ships for 15 years which gave her the opportunity to travel the world. In 2004 Gerry took over the LCDBC bridge club which met in the April Sound Church where she devoted countless hours organizing and managing the club and teaching new and intermediate bridge students. She attained the status of Ruby Life Master in 2017.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Gerry in the April Sound Church February 20, 2025 at 2pm with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the April Sound Church https://www.soundchurchtx.com/give or the American Red Cross.