Geraldine May Walker

Geraldine May (Groves) Walker was born September 8, 1917, at Jamestown, Kansas, to Clarence and Bertha May (Davis) Groves and she died, November 17, 2007, at the Jewell County Hospital, Long-term Care, at the age of 90 years, 2 months, and 9 days.

Her family moved to Mankato before Geraldine started school in Mankato. They moved into the house at the corner of Highway 36 and High Street. Gerry as her friends call her, graduated from Mankato High School in 1935. She met and married William Gail Walker on April 17, 1936, at Belleville, Kansas. She lived with Gail in Long Island, Kansas, Crete, Nebraska, Sterling, Kansas, Nashville, Kansas, Hays, Kansas, before returning to Mankato in her retirement years.

Gerry was a homemaker, putting her family first in her life. She loved to cook and was a fabulous cook. She joined the Harmony United Methodist Church in Mankato at the age of 12, and had her membership transfer back to her home church from Hays.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 65 years, Gail; and brother Harold and wife, Catherine; brother J. D. and wife, Lydia; a sister, Bernadine and husband Lyle Baker; a brother in law, Waldo and wife Leta Walker; and sister sister in law, Barbara Groves; brother in law, Neil Pate; granddaughter, Whitney Kathleen Walker; grandson, Brian Pederson; and great granddaughter, Amber Pederson.

Gerry is survived by her daughter, Judy and husband, John Link of Pratt, Kansas; son, Bill and wife, Marilyn Walker of Mankato, Kansas; brother, Bill R. and wife, Dianne Groves of Wichita, Kansas; sister-in-law, Lorena Pate of Hays, Kansas; brother-in-law, Bryon and wife, June Walker of Kingman, Kansas; five grandchildren including: granddaughter Kim and husband, Kenton Lyon of Pratt, Kansas, and children, Kaley and Rich Lyon of Gorham; grandson, Kevin and wife, Kris Pederson and children, Kyle and Kraig Pederson of Medicine Lodge, Kansas; granddaughter, Karmin and husband Matt Hoffman and children: Maygan and Adam Boone of Pratt, Kansas; grandson, Yancey and wife, Jennifer Walker of Honolulu; and granddaughter, Mary Kenworthy and children, Holden, Layton, and Dalton of Pratt, Kansas; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life service was held Tuesday, November 20, 2007, at 1:30 p.m., at the Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, Kansas, with Pastors Tessa Zehring and Leroy Lyon officiating. Music was provided by Mrs. Pat Grout, organist, and hymns, by Ted Groves and James Baker. Casket bearers were nephews: Ted Baker, Billy Groves, Eldon Pate, Greg Pate, Michael Pate, Terry Pate, Daniel Walker, Doug Walker, Larry Walker, and Gerald Prescott. Interment was in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato, Kansas. The family suggests memorials to Jewell County Hospital Long-term Care Unit, Activities Fund, Mankato, Kansas. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas was in charge of arrangements.