CHARELENE ALBERTA GEYER

Charelene Alberta Geyer, age 88, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on Sunday, January 19, 2025.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 310 Johnston Pkwy., Raymore, Missouri 64083. Charelene's remains will then be laid to rest at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville.

In the words of her daughter, Teresa; Sadly, I have said goodbye to my mother in pieces. She has faded from her lively, passionate, and sometimes ornery presence, slowly turning inward until she finally found her path home to heaven.

Mom loved living in the Kansas City area. She had so many happy memories of living here. She grew up visiting grandparents and being surrounded by both her mother's and her father's families. Some favorite activities she shared with us through the years include: Walking all over Kansas City and travelling by streetcar when they had the money, Going to Thompson's lunch owned by her Aunt and Uncle, Taking her Grandma Mom to Union Station so she could visit Uncle Eugene and Aunt Teck in Minnesota Attending Immanuel Lutheran, Using the public library at the Paseo and telling the librarian she and her sister needed more books. She and my aunt both had a lifelong love of reading.

She often reminisced about her years at Paseo High. She recalled her friend Eleanor, who came in the back door of her home and made toast before making their exit for school through the front door. Her family always had bread due to her dad bringing home "cripples," imperfectly sliced bread from Taystee bakery, where he was a baker. They were a bit nomadic, moving frequently from one house to the next best house as a child, but always in KC near her family. Her first job was at Wolfermans on the Plaza. Mom attended Central Missouri State University for two years and enjoyed sorority life. She met my dad there, and they had the rare privilege of being married to each other for 65 years.

Her father advised her to get a  government  job, and she landed one at food and drug, later working as a tax examiner for the IRS. She learned two computer programming languages in the late 70's to secure a job with Marine Corps Finance. She and Dad enjoyed getting all dolled up once a year to attend the Marine Corps ball.

She was a master vacation planner.  She used the Mobile travel guides and planned budget friendly 2 week family vacations every year.  We camped in national parks and enjoyed visiting historic sites and beautiful natural sights. She and dad nourished a love of both history and nature for me and my brother. She and dad were able to travel to all but four states. They made it to both Alaska and Hawaii, Europe, Costa Rica, and Panama. They were very good traveling companions and were excited about participating in the unique experiences each place held. Mom definitely had a fear of missing out. She loved to be on the go and relished learning and participating in any adventure she could find.

She was a skilled seamstress who adjusted my clothing so it fit my tiny frame and sewed more teen friendly clothing when the child sizes that fit me failed to make me feel pretty. She once sewed a dress for her granddaughter's school dance and helped her feel beautiful too. She loved children. She was the Kool-Aid mom in the neighborhood. The massive sandbox, wading pool and swing set were in constant use. She was often sought out for the cold Neosporin she kept in the fridge topped off with a band aid- so much better than the burn of the red stuff. She welcomed all her grandchildren and frequently cared for them (and their parents) by hosting overnights and outings.

She endured the messes of our childhood baking sugar cookies, even allowing us to lick the beaters, my brother's Incredible Edibles and chemistry adventures were indulged and often took place in our kitchen. She later nurtured my brother's interest in cars, allowing him to use half the garage to get junkers running again. Birthday celebrations were always focused on her kids and were a big deal. She catered to us to make sure we had a cool cake, and a day focused on our interests and our favorites. We were the center of her world as children. She made many trips to the library, the zoo, the YMCA, Judo, baseball, basketball, and school carnivals for my brother and years of enduring swim team practices and meets with me. She and my aunt worked to make sure we had lots of time with cousins continuing that family tie that was so strongly established in their childhood. She indulged us and truly said yes as often as she could. My mom's love makes me think of a quote attributed to Mother Teresa, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family."

As her memory failed, she still recalled the Lord's Prayer, the Apostle's Creed, and remembered many lyrics for favorite hymns. Her love of Christ remained when many other thoughts were fleeting. She has now journeyed just beyond the moon to meet up with dad and join him in praising God forever."

Charelene was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Opal Flueckinger; husband of 65 years, Murel D. Geyer; sister, Sandra Kay Moore; brother, Carl Alfred Flueckinger Jr.; and son, Carl Geyer.

She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Ann Lally (Rick); daughter in law, Kathy Geyer; five grandchildren, Christina Phillips (Aaron), Carl Geyer Jr. (Ila), Richard Lally, Alyssa Lally, and Mathew Lally; and five great grandchildren, Kelsi, Aubrey, Carter, Reed, and Nason, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278