Geraldine Dean

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Geraldine Charlotte Dean, 87, passed away March 16, 2023, at home in Palm Desert. She was born November 22, 1935, in Joplin Missouri, the daughter of Charlie Leonard Daniels and Mary Alice Bollman. She had one brother, Charley Daniels Jr. She lived in Garden Grove, California with her parents and in 1973 she moved back to Missouri. For the last 15 or so years she would come to California and stay with Debbie and John during the winter and go back to Missouri in the summer.

Gerry graduated from Joplin High School in 1952. She had several different careers. She worked at Sears in downtown LA when she was young. (Early 20’s) She then owned a donut shop and pie shop. She learned to decorate beautiful cakes. When she moved to Missouri, she became a dispatcher for the Carl Junction Police department.

Gerry was proud of her craftmanship. She had a craft store for several years in Missouri. She loved arranging flowers and crocheting. She loved gambling with lottery- scratch off tickets, playing Bingo and winning! She always worried about everyone else before herself. She loved dogs, all dogs, she would overfeed them with treats. She was fiercely protective of her family and very big on self-defense, especially kids learning how to defend themselves.

She loved watching her great grandkids and showing them off to all the nurses at the nursing home. She loved dessert, coffee and Panda Express, the color burgundy and giving gifts and money to her family and the joy it brought them. She loved Christmas, decorating and gift giving.

She loved flirting with cute young –male nurses, they would brighten her smile. She was also known for keeping money in her bra. Geraldine was generous, loving, fiercely protective and warm.

She attended a Christian church in Missouri. She also attended church services where she lived at The Carlotta.

She is survived by her loving family,

Children:

Deborah Lynn Faulkner, Temecula, California, Joseph, E. Kropp, Jr. (Eddie), Joplin, Missouri, Mary Annette Haase, Joplin, Missouri, Paul Anthony Charles Kropp, Joplin, Missouri.

Grandchildren:

John Michael Faulkner, Jr., Kristen Marie Zavala, Michael Joseph Paul Faulkner, Anthony Wayne Kropp, Austin Paul Kropp, Trey Haase, Taylor Haase.

Great Grandchildren:

Avery Kate Faulkner, Kaidence Kristen Faulkner, John Michael Faulkner, III., Colby Zavala, Prieston Kropp, Kelsey Ann Faulkner, Dylan Thomas Zavala, Kennedi Kate Faulkner, Troy Michael Faulkner, and Brennen Kropp.

She will be forever remembered by her loving family and friends.