Obituary of Tressie Gerbic

Tressie Mae Dale Gerbic Tressie Gerbic, age 85, died, Wednesday, August 6th 2008 at Pacific Coast Care Center, her family by her side. She was born November 2, 1922 at home, near Stella, Arkansas. Tressie was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Anthony John Gerbic, her brothers, Van, Conway, Doss, Knox, Curtis & Joe, and sisters, Juanita, Lucy & Mary Ellen. She is survived by her sisters, Peggy Thurnau (Everett) Kansas City, MO, Minnie New (Robert) Overland Park, KS and brother Johnny Dale (Connie) Sidney, AR. She also is survived by stepdaughter Antoinette Gerbic (Millersburg, OH); daughters Mary Gerbic (Mark) Santa Cruz, Susan Gerbic-Forsyth (Mike) Salinas, and son Anthony John Jr. (Mary) of Morgan Hill; grandchildren, Theresa, Laura, Caspian & Stirling, and 5 great grand children. Tressie worked as an Avon representative for over 20 years, winning numerous Miss Albee awards for her outstanding sales skills. Tressie enjoyed gardening, quilting and spending time with her family. In the last ten years Tressie traveled to Washington DC, Kansas City, Arkansas, Florida and in 1997 she traveled to Hawaii where she climbed Diamond Head on Oahu and insisted her picture be taken at the highest point, all so she could proudly show the picture to her cardiologist Dr. Mustoe. She graduated high school in 1943 from Mt. Pleasant High School in Arkansas where she played on the girls basketball team. She was active in the PTA at Fremont Elementary while her children attended, and for many years she taught Sunday School at her church, First Southern Baptist in Salinas. When her church became Valley Baptist she attended until her health declined. In the last two years, Tressie moved in with her daughter Susan and grandsons Caspian & Stirling, where she quickly became the queen of the house. YouTube videos of Tressie sharing her earliest memories can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/sgerbic. FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, August 9 at Healey Mortuary, at 10am. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at the home of her daughter Susan, immediately afterwards. Home address: 5 Catalina Ave, Salinas (near Central Park). INTERMENT: Private burial to follow at the Garden of Memories Cemetery, 850 Abbott St., Salinas, CA 93901 MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers please make donations in Tressie’s memory to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.