OBITUARY

Virginia Sue “Jeanne Sue” Gerlich Nelson

Posted

Virginia Sue “Jeanne Sue” Gerlich Nelson, 79, of Gonzales, was swept up into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, August 14, 2022. Jeanne Sue was born January 3, 1943 in Hallettsville to Oscar and Bessie Filla Gerlich. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church. 

Jeanne Sue grew up with her “Czech” speaking grandfather and the Sisters of Sacred Heart Catholic School had to teach her to speak English. At an early age she moved to Gonzales with her mother. She graduated from GHS in 1961 where she sang in the choir and made All-State honors. She attended Durham Business School studying accounting, and business law before transferring to the University of Texas to study accounting. She married Ralph McCawley and moved to Florida where she again continued her studies in accounting at the University of Florida. Jeanne Sue worked as a bookkeeper in Houston, TX and Ridgetop, TN where she worked as an accountant for Ford Motor Company for 15 years and finally moving back to Gonzales where she worked for Jen Ripley, CPA. She founded Longhorn Enterprises, an accounting firm. She went to work for Tandy Brands in Yoakum as a customer service representative and accountant and finally went to work for Holiday Finance as an accountant before retiring.  

Jeanne Sue had a passion for music. She played keyboard and sang country western music with memorable bands like Texas Better Together and Texas Spirit. Her other passions were picking blackberries and dewberries and taking them to market. She loved the Lord and instilled the values she learned in her Christian upbringing with her children. Jeanne Sue loved her family and treasured her friends. She channeled all her love through her children as if loving them was her single purpose in life. She always tried to do God’s will and with all her heart and soul she believed in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In her later years she had a hunger for reading her bible and sharing the love of Jesus with everyone she met.  

Virginia Sue Gerlich Nelson is survived by her adoring family, daughter, DeNessa Baker (Sherman) of Gonzales, son, Kerry McCawley (Viola) of Gonzales, sister, Sandra Webb Sweeney of Smithville, grandchildren, Jessica Wright (Alex), Rebekah Baker, Breanna Baker, Samantha Baker, Karissa Baker, Kerry DeNessa Green, Edward Mendez, Ernest Mendez and special great-grandchild, Aubrey Gonzales. She was preceded in death by her son, Landis Bryant Hallman, granddaughter, Jessica Redfern, sisters, Gayle Morgan, Tommie Reynolds and nephew, Dwayne English.

The family will receive friends from 9 am to 10 am Saturday, August 20, 2022 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 11 am in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Hallettsville with Fr. James Dvorak officiating. Pallbearers: Kerry McCawley, Ernest Mendez, Edward Mendez and Joseph Solansky. Memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Church.

Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.   

Comments