Gertrude Reese passed away January 21, 2015, at her residence in Belton, Texas, surrounded by her friends and family. Gertrude Marie Stubbs Reese was born to David and Edna (Weber) Stubbs on December 16, 1923 in Concrete, Texas. She married the love of her life, Hiram Drew Reese, on November 22, 1940. He preceded her in death on 2007, after a happy marriage of 67 years. At the time of his death, the couple had returned to their hometown of Cuero, Texas, where they both graduated from Cuero High School. They had previously lived in Somerset and Luling, Texas. They later lived in Three Rivers, Pleasanton, and Prairie Lea, Texas, where Drew was a long time school superintendent and Gertrude (Gert) was a school teacher. She also taught at St. Michael's School in Cuero to finish her teaching career; she was 75 when she retired from working with children at St. Michael's. Interestingly, she also climbed a mountain that same year.

Gertrude was an indomitable spirit who once posed as a USO dancer during World War II so she could see Drew, who was a part of a top -secret mission for the Army Air Corps. Friends noted she lived through not only World War II and the Great Depression, but also lived through 16 different United States Presidents. Drew used to tease her about how they defied the odds, by being teenagers who married and who made it together for 67 years, saying "you know what they say about teenage marriages rarely lasting!"

Gertrude received her Bachelor's of Education Degree from Southwest Texas State Teacher's College in 1953, and earned her Master's in Education from the same university, later named Texas State University, at age 55. Gert and Drew ran the Veteran's Coffee Shop at the college after returning from World War II, and they alternated going to class and working at the coffee shop in order to finish working their way through college. When they retired from the coffee shop, after they finished their first degrees, many folks they served over the years lamented their leaving the coffee shop they successfully ran while they were in college.

'Gertie' (as Drew called her) and Drew hosted a series of meetings for the 'Purpose Filled Life,' sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Cuero, Texas, when they were in their 80's. This was typical of Gertrude; she never stopped growing, learning, and giving back to others. She was the ultimate volunteer. An active Civic Leader everywhere she lived, Gertrude was active and held leadership roles in many different organizations. She also taught Sunday school and worked in Bible School during these times and was particularly active in church and hospital activities. She was a past president of the Cuero Community Hospital Auxiliary and she often traveled with Drew internationally, believing travel was a great learning experience.

She was not only preceded in death by her parents, but also by a baby brother, Garland Stubbs, and her younger sister and brother, 'Dell' Reinhardt Cox and 'Bob' Stubbs.

She leaves behind many loyal friends and extended family, including two daughters, Mary Jocelyn Organek of San Antonio, Texas, and Deborah Lynette Potts of Belton, Texas She is also survived by her sons-in-laws, Mark Organek and Neale Potts; two grandchildren, Luke Potts and Lynsey Patrick and their spouses, Kayla Potts and Bryan Patrick; and 6 great-grandchildren, Daphne Patrick, Iris Patrick, Silas Patrick and August Patrick, all of San Antonio, and Emily Potts and Drew Potts, of Belton, Texas.

She leaves behind a legacy of fierce love for family and God. She also modeled the example of an incredible work ethic.

Services will be held Saturday, January 24, 2015, 10 a.m., at First Baptist Church in Cuero with Rev. Bryan Patrick officiating. Gertrude will be interred at Hillside Cemetery in Cuero, alongside her perennial sweetheart, Drew.

Pallbearers are: Bill Reinhardt, Michael Reinhardt, Ray Reese, Dr. Raymond Reese, Luke Potts and Eddie Robert Stubbs.

Honorary pallbearers are: Ronnie Roecker, Leo Semper, Bert Stubbs, Johnny Coppedge, Garlan Weber and the men of the First Baptist Church of Cuero, Texas.

She chose the following for memorials: First Baptist Church - Cuero, P.O. Box 803, Cuero, Texas 77954, First Baptist Church - Belton, 506 N. Main St., Belton, Texas 76513, Belton Educational Enrichment Fund, the Debbie Reese Potts Scholarship, 400 North Wall St., Belton, Texas 76513, or to any local library or hospital. Gertrude believed strongly in everyone being able to broaden individual education through access to reading.

Freund Funeral Home, 361.275.2343.