Geraldine “Gerry” Bryant Ruschhaupt of McKinney, Texas passed away peacefully on February 9, 2024 at the age of 95.
Gerry was a good example of her era and a life well lived. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a gracious hostess, neighbor and friend.
Gerry was born in Sherman, Texas to Jess and Mildred (Morgan) Bryant. She was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, with her younger brother by a single mom, following the death of her father when she was six years old. Gerry attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth. She met Albert Ruschhaupt while they were both working at Carpenter Paper Company in Fort Worth. Al and Gerry were married in September 1947 and they settled in McKinney, Texas where Al had opened McKinney Office & School Supply just six months earlier.
While raising children, Gerry often worked from home. McKinney Office Supply did a large amount of business with churches and other local organizations. She would type their menus and bulletins plus print them on the mimeograph machine. In addition to raising children and working, Gerry enjoyed sewing for her daughters and enjoyed entertaining. Gerry was a member of the McKinney Garden Club, Owl Forum, Methodist Women’s Society and taught Sunday school.
Al and Gerry were an active couple in the community as McKinney grew. McKinney Office Supply became known as a downtown fixture over the years and people would come in asking Gerry for advice, to talk and for information about the city or even where to vote. Both Al and Gerry were involved members of First Methodist Church, having joined the church in 1948. They were also involved in Camp Fire Girls, Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, and the beginning of the Boys and Girls Club of Collin County and Collin County Community College. Gerry’s record of service and involvement also included board memberships with McKinney Parks and Recreation Board, the Heard-Craig Women’s Club, McKinney Community Development Corporation and North Central Medical Center.
In 1995, Gerry was named outstanding McKinney Citizen by the McKinney Chamber of Commerce. In 1998, the McKinney Chamber named Al and Gerry as recipients of McKinney’s Sesquicentennial Citizenship Award “in recognition of their lifelong commitment to McKinney, and their selfless contributions to the quality of life in our community”.
Gerry was also honored as a 2004 Living Legend by Collin College. and was described at the presentation as “an unofficial, but enthusiastic ambassador for McKinney newcomers and visitors”. In 2005, she received the McKinney Community Development Quality of Life Award. Subsequently, in 2015, the McKinney City Council honored Gerry by naming the roadway that leads to the Al Ruschhaupt Soccer Complex at Wilson Creek as Gerry R Lane.
The family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care given to Gerry by both Grand Brook Memory Care of McKinney and Anchor of Hope Hospice.
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Al, to whom she was married for 51 years, her father Jess Bryant, mother Mildred Bryant, and son-in-law, Andy Rodgers.
She is survived by her daughters, Judy Rodgers of McKinney, Texas and Janet McDougal and husband, Dr. Tom McDougal of Dallas, Texas; son, Richard Ruschhaupt and wife, Sally of Plano, Texas; six grandchildren, Damon Rodgers and wife, Tina of Eastland, Texas, Julie Luckey and husband, Keith of Dallas, Texas, Dusty Rodgers and wife, Jennifer of Weatherford, Texas, Laura Swann and husband, Dr. Presley Swann of Denver, Colorado, Ross Ruschhaupt and wife, Maggie of Dallas, Texas, and Reed Ruschhaupt of Austin, Texas; fourteen great grandchildren; and a host of other loving family and cherished friends.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at First Methodist McKinney, 315 North Church Street, McKinney, Texas 75069.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
Memorial may be made in Gerry’s name to: Boys and Girls Club of Collin County McKinney and Heard Natural Science Museum.