Annie Gentry

1941 - 2017

Annie Gentry

September 11, 1941 - April 15, 2017

Visalia

Annie Gentry was the fourth of ten children born to Santiago and Juana Mendoza. She was born in Hanford, California but grew up and attended school in the Earlimart area, graduating from Delano High School, class of 1960. She then moved to Visalia to attend College of Sequoias, earning her AA Degree. She soon found employment with the County of Tulare in Visalia, working several years in the Planning Department, Probation Department and Clerks Office. During that time she was able to obtain her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of San Francisco. She later obtained certification as a Paralegal and then became licensed to sell Real Estate.

In 1968, Annie was working as the Executive Secretary in the Legal Aid Office in Visalia when she was introduced to her future husband, Raymond Gentry by mutual friends in the County Planning Department where Ray was working. He immediately fell in love with her beauty, charm and intelligence. They were married a few months later and remained married until her passing, over 48 years later. They lived for a while in Visalia and had one child, Amanda. The family soon moved to Delano and subsequently to Hanford where Ray served as Planning Director of each of those cities during the 1970's. In 1981 the Gentry's moved back to Visalia. She worked for a while at the College of Sequoias while often assisting Ray in the early stages of his new venture as an Urban Planning Consultant. She then finished a successful working career in Real Estate, primarily for the CENTEX Corporation. Also during the 1980's Annie became a featured actress in many of the Hispanic plays that were being performed in Visalia at that time.

Annie loved her large family, having four sisters and five brothers. She accepted her step-daughter, Tracy and her children as her own. She especially adored and doted on her grandson, Scott Van Tol. The Gentry's often traveled by RV all over the western US. In 2005, they purchased a vacation hide-a-way near Tehachipi, naming it the "Starlight Ranch". This became a frequent place for family and friends to gather, especially on weekends and holidays during winter months.

Annie was preceded in death by her mother and father, and an older half-sister, Pilar. She is survived by her husband, Ray Gentry, daughter, Amanda (Arlen) Van Tol, grandson, Scott Van Tol, step-daughter, Tracy Scherrer (Michael) and their children: Heather, Hayley and Ethan. She is also survived by all of her siblings: Mercy Montero, Lupe Juarez, Stella Hernandez (Bernardo), Victoria Mendoza, and brothers Joe (Cora), Jessie (Anna), Robert (Suzie), Carlos (Kathy) and Fred (Terri) Mendoza. She is also loved by each of her numerous nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Hadley-Marcom Funeral Chapel; located at 1700 W. Caldwell Avenue in Visalia. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral service between 9:00-11:00 a.m. A catered reception and celebration of Annie's life will follow the service and will be held at the Veteran's Memorial Building, located at 609 W. Center Street in downtown Visalia. Words of comfort can be sent to the Family at www.hadley-marcom.com. Services entrusted to Hadley-Marcom Funeral Chapel, Visalia.