Herman Geries

Born in Progress, Texas July 29, 1931 to Dick and Perlie Geries, Herman Geries passed away after a lengthy illness on October 25, 2012 to be with his God and his loved ones who left this world before him. Herman grew up on a farm in Lariat, Texas surrounded by a loving family that included his three younger brothers Bob, Don, and Dickie. Growing up in this pioneering environment, nurtured Hermans lifelong loves of working the soil, reaping the fruits of hard work, hunting, and fishing.

Herman attended Farwell High School, where he was active in FFA, and after graduation, at the age of eighteen, he made the best decision of his life and married his high school sweetheart, Alta Norton, on May 28, 1950. The couple have been pillars of comfort, joy, love, and support for sixtytwo years.

The couple started their life together with Herman working for his Uncle Earnest Ramm on his farm, and then in 1951, they moved north of Farwell where Herman rented property from his fatherinlaw, Lester Norton. The United States went to war and Herman volunteered for the Air Force in 1952, where he used the skills hed learned on the farm to serve as a sheet metal worker on airplanes during the Korean War. He was stationed in Germany for a year, an experience of service in which he always took great pride and added to his already immense sense of patriotism. Herman ended his enlistment in the Air Force with stints at Cannon AFB and Altus AFB in Oklahoma.

After leaving the Air Force, Herman continued his farming career north of Farwell and served as president of the Parmer County Farm Bureau. Alta and Herman decided to start a family, and in February of 1961 they adopted their first child, a baby girl they named Tina. Three years later, having to pull their car from the driveway with a tractor, they braved a snowstorm driving to Fort Worth to adopt their second child, a baby boy they named Todd. The couples lives would revolve around their children for the rest of their lives, and Herman and Alta were always exemplary parents.

Herman continued his farming career and expanded his operation in 1970, buying land in New Mexico and building his own house on the property. He continued to be active in the Curry County Farm Bureau, and then in 1977, to add to his duties, he became a member of the Texico School Board on which he proudly served for sixteen selfless years.

Despite all of his familial, civic, and ecclesiastical duties, Herman still found time through the years to enjoy his passion for hunting and fishing, making numerous forays into Colorado, and New Mexico to hunt for deer and elk on horseback. His penultimate hunting expedition however was a two week stay in the wilds of Canada in 1968, where Native American guides led him and his friends on a hunt which yielded a black bear and an elk for the avid huntsman.

While Herman focused intently on his family and career, he always held God and his church as central to being the person God wanted him to be. He was a charter member of the First Baptist Church Farwell, Texas served as the Sunday School Superintendent worked in the Mens Brotherhood served as a deacon for years taught Sunday School volunteered for any committee that needed him and traveled to locales as far asunder as Arizona, Mexico, Guatemala, and Brazil on mission trips to spread the word of Christ to those in need. After a devoted life of service, God has seen fit to call his good and faithful servant home.

Herman was preceded in death by his father and mother, Dick and Perlie Geries his daughter Tina Dorwald brother Don and his wife Linda.

He is survived by his loving wife Alta of Farwell, Texas son Todd and his wife Phyllis of Houston, Texas soninlaw James Dorwald of San Antonio, Texas granddaughter Amy Buehler and her husband Brad of Houston, Texas granddaughter Sarah Spickard of Harrogate, England granddaughter Christen Gill great grandson Grayson Buehler great granddaughters Ava and Sophia Buehler great granddaughter Abriana Gill brother Bob Geries and his wife Charlene of Clovis, New Mexico brother Dickie and his wife Glenda of Uvalde, Texas and numerous nieces and nephews of which he was tremendously fond.

Herman led a long, productive, and joyful life surrounded by wonderful family and friends. He will be missed, but hes in a better place and all of our lives were enriched by his life.

Donations in Hermans memory can be made to the following institutions: New Mexico Baptist Childrens Home, Inc., Box 629, Portales, New Mexico 88130 and Farwell Care and Rehabilitation Center, 305 5th Street, Farwell, Texas 79325.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. CDT, on Monday, October 29, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Farwell, TX with Rev. Russ Ponder and Rev. Gene Hawkins, officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Terrace Memorial Cemetery in Farwell, TX. Serving as casket bearers will be his nephews, Randy Geries, Steve Geries, Bob E. Geries, Greg Geries, Tim Norton, Ray Norton, Jason Jamison, Tyson Jamison, Trevor Norton, Tom Hartley, and Aaron Hendrickson.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of SteedTodd Funeral Home, 800 E. Manana Blvd. Clovis, New Mexico 575 7635541. You may sign the online guest registry at www.steedtodd.com .

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