Sally Gerdes Cherry

Sally Gerdes Cherry Sally died suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday, January 29, 2009 in Eastland, TX. She was born on December 12, 1945 to Casper and Clyde Hollingsworth Gerdes in Corpus Christi, TX - the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico and the Americas. On December 12, she often enjoyed viewing the television broadcast of services from the Shrine of Guadalupe in Mexico City and the Cathedral in San Antonio. On her mother's side she was a proud descendant of Thomas Henry Lee of Charleston, SC, brother of Robert E. Lee. Her Family moved to Keatchie, (pronounced Key Chiy) Louisiana in the 1840's where they owned lands near Keithville, LA. Her Grandmother moved to Sinton after her husband was killed in a fire in Louisiana in 1905. Her father Casper was descended from a large family of Alsatian emigrants who came to Texas through Indianola, TX in the mid 19th century. The Gerdeses were ginners in the Hallettsville area and Casper's family of seven brothers and two sisters moved a gin to Corpus in the early 1900's. Casper became was a very successful farmer and entrepreneur in Sinton. As a child she traveled to Europe frequently and attended La Grand Verger School in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she made fast friends. Sally graduated from St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio in 1964, as President of her class, among numerous other honors. She was an accomplished pianist and played the classics beautifully. Sally went to Pine Manor College in Boston and received her AA degree in 1966. She then went to Finch College in New York City and received a bachelor's degree with a major in Art History. She married John Talley of Beaumont and had two children, Nicholas and Christopher. In 2002 Sally married Dr. Russell C. Cherry of Raymondville, TX. Sally and Russell were the love of each other's life. They both felt fortunate to have found true love so late in life. They were married in Falls Church on October 18, 2002 and were almost never apart until her death in 2009. Despite many economic and social pressures on their lives the couple loved each other dearly and learned that adversity made their love stronger. The couple lived together in Falls Church for a while and then returned to Sinton and Raymondville. Sally was a very talented interior decorator and produced beautiful rooms, flower arrangements and place settings. In 2008 Sally opened three antique shops and enjoyed buying and decorating the locations. Sally was a person of great and unwavering faith who maintained her faith in God despite hard times and adversity. Sally, while on her knees praying, was fortunate to have once heard the voice of God speaking to her to say "Something really good is going to happen to you." Sally is survived by her husband, Russell Cherry, her two sons, Nicholas and Christopher, daughter-in-law Laura Talley, and two grandchildren, Skyler and Sage. Please join us in celebrating Sally's life by visiting our Memorial at www.mem.com where we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.