Mrs. Naomi was a wonderful woman and a friend to all. I grew up with her grandchildren and spent many days with them at Maddox Bay. I remember her visits to my grandmother Betty to buy Avon. Even in my early adult years, I can recall visits with her and Joe at Smiley's Tastee Freeze. I worked there and she loved to get the catfish plates for them on Friday night. My brother and Robert II are best friends to this day. She will be dearly missed.
I was sad to hear of Naomis passing. You might say she was my half first cousin. Her Dad Willie McManus was my Dads half brother, they had the same mother. Ralph E. Hall
from the Nov. 11, 2007, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
HOLLY GROVE Naomi McManus Gerlach, 87, widow of Marvin Gerlach, died Friday, Nov. 9. She was a lifetime resident of Holly Grove and a homemaker. Survivors are eight sons, three daughters, 21 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, Macedonia Cemetery, Holly Grove. Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home-Clarendon. Photo/Obit/Guestbook at www.bobnealandsons.com
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From the funeral home web site:
Naomi McManus Gerlach, age 87, died at the Crestpark Nursing Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas, on Friday, November 9, 2007.
The only child of the late Willie and Jessie Monroe McManus, Naomi was born in Holly Grove, Arkansas, on December 10, 1919. She was united in marriage to Marvin Mugg Gerlach on July 8, 1943, in Holly Grove and to this marriage eight sons and three daughters were born.
Naomi was a 1940 graduate of Holly Grove High School, a Baptist and a homemaker. She was a great cook and could cook anything, but her philosophy was if you kill it or catch it, you clean it and I will cook it. Naomi enjoyed flea markets, gardening, crocheting, fishing and talking to friends on the phone. An outgoing person she never met a stranger and her nature was to share her rewards from the garden and her homemade crafts. Her familys greatest joys were spending the holidays at Grandma Gerlachs.
Naomi is survived by: eight sons, Rockwell T. Gerlach and wife Vivian of White Hall, Marvin A. Gerlach and wife Diane of Russellville, Charles A. Gerlach and wife Janice of Arlington, TX, Harris P. Gerlach and Joseph B. Gerlach, both of Holly Grove, Robert D. Gerlach and wife Debbie of Alymra, Franklin T. Gerlach and wife Cheryl of Newton, IA, Harry J. Gerlach and wife Amy of Holly Grove; three daughters, Jessie Mae Roberts and husband Joe of Fairview, TN, G. Marie McCoy and husband Ferlon of Holly Grove, Paula L. Davidson and husband Doug of Greenville, MS; 21 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 2:00 P.M., Sunday November 11, 2007, at Macedonia Cemetery in Holly Grove with Bro. Jerry Hopper officiating. Arrangements are by Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home of Clarendon. Pallbearers will be her sons and honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Collins, Mike Chastain, Ferlon McCoy, Joe Roberts, Herman Gerlach, Doug Davidson, Bret Staggs and Drexel Helms. You may sign our on line guest book at www.bobnealandsons.com
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 21:48, 2007-11-14
