Geraldine Thomason

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Geraldine Rapert Thomason, age 92, a resident of Charleston, died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2020, at the Bertrand Nursing and Rehab Center.

She was born Feb. 7, 1928, to the late Orvin Raymon Rapert and Lelia Jewell Johnston Rapert. She lived in Charleston most of her life where she was employed for more than 31 years at Warren E. Hearnes Elementary School as a teaching assistant, retiring May 25, 2004. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Charleston and served the church as a Sunday school teacher, served as a Girl Scout Leader a number of years and was a member of the educational paraprofessional group in Southeast Missouri known as "Misscotdeau." She was also an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.

Affectionately known as Mrs. Gerri, she loved and served her community as a tutor, teacher, self-esteem booster, guiding hand, gentle prodder, confidant, champion, first aid giver, willing listener and friend for countless young children. The children in the classroom where she served became her own.

On Jan. 29, 1950, she married Robert J. "Bob" Thomason, who preceded her in death on Nov. 8, 2014.

Family was central to "Mrs. Gerri and Mr. Bob."

She is survived by her daughters, Becky (Charles) Tinsley of Charleston and Peggy Bentlage of Cape Girardeau; her grandchildren, Cade (Laura Jane) Coon, Alana (Paul) Mills, Andrew (Rachel) Bentlage and Charley (Cindy) Tinsley; her great-grandchildren, Stewart Coon, William Coon, Archer Bentlage, Mason Mills, Nora Mills and Ruby Mills, Caitlyn Tinsley, Chase Tinsley and Camille Bohnert; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Esselman Rapert and Bennie Rapert and her sisters, Essie Louise Phillips, Martha Lee Hollis and Virginia Cox, son-in-law Mark Bentlage and granddaughter Rebecca Tinsley.

The family will receive friends from noon until 1 p.m., Monday at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. Private graveside services will follow at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Charleston. Interment will follow under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Cade Coon, Andrew Bentlage, Paul Mills, Charles Tinsley, Stewart Coon and Terry A. Parker.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.