Gertrude De Wees

1926 - 2012

Gertrude "Gertie" De Wees
October 22, 1926 - March 5, 2012
Gertrude (Gertie) De Wees was born on October 22, 1926 to Walter and Ruth Weaver in Los Angeles.  She passed away on March 5, 2012 after a long illness.  Gertie is survived by her husband, Joe De Wees whom she married on December 20, 1953 in Modesto.  She is also survived by her daughter, Alayne Crawford; son, Ricci De Wees; her brother, Richard (Carolyn) Weaver; sister, Margo (Art) Jenkind; two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great- grandchild.
Gertie worked for Alfred Matthews car dealership as a bookkeeper for ten years.  She semi-retired and became a stay-at-home mother.  She was an animal lover and there were many different animals/pets in her home.  She also worked at the voting polls for many years.  She came out of retirement in 1977 to become the bookkeeper for Ply Pac Lumber Company until the owner closed the company in 1987.
Gertie and her husband began traveling throughout the United States and visited 45 of the 50 states.  They also spent time in Canada, Aruba, and old Mexico.  They have a home in San Felipe, Mexico where they spent part of their winters for 20 years, dancing and walking on the beach.
Gertie was a volunteer at Stanislaus Animal Control from 1989 to 1999.  She rescued dogs and delivered them to their new owners as far south as Fresno, and north to San Francisco and Fairfield.
Gertie could be found tending to her roses and flowers in her yard, doing all kinds of crafts, reading, and listening to music.  One of her great loves was dancing and she attended the dances at the Senior Citizens Hall on Saturday evenings.
There will be a Memorial Service held on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at the Greg Karras residence located at 1101 Columbard Way in Modesto from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.  Instead of floral gifts, please make a donation either to the Alzheimer's Association or to Optimal Hospice Care at 1101 Sylvan Avenue, Suite B-10, Modesto, 95350. 
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