Gerry Ann Getty

Gerry Ann (Roeder) Getty, 53, of Ottawa, Kansas, died after an extended illness on Wednesday, February 11, 2004, at the University of Kansas Hospital. She was born July 21, 1950, to Mathias and Marie Roeder of rural Seneca. She grew up in rural Nemaha County on a dairy farm with three brothers and two sisters. After graduating from high school, she attended Kansas State Teaching College in Emporia. She graduated after only three years of school, at the age of 21. While attending college, she met, fell in love with, and married, Steven Getty of Downs, Kansas. They were married on October 3, 1970. She had two sons, Brent, 32, of Lawrence, and Marc, 27, of Kansas City, Missouri. Having received her teaching certificate in 1971, Mrs. Getty set out on a long and distinguished career as an elementary teacher and mother. Over her 32-year career, she taught young children all across the state, starting in Overbrook, then McDonald, then Tipton and, finally, at Central Heights in rural Franklin County. Throughout her career, she was active in the local National Education Association. She served as local president and chief negotiator, as well as being a delegate, along with her husband, to several national conventions. In 1992, she received a master's degree from Kansas State in 1992. Her master's degree allowed her to bring her love of education to adults, by teaching courses at the Neosho County Community College satellite campus in Ottawa. Over the course of her career, Mrs. Getty received numerous awards including: Who's Who Among America's Teachers; the 1995 Viking of the Year; the 2001 Outstanding Reading Educator from the Franklin County Reading Council; and the 2002 Kansas Reading Association Professional Literacy Award. She also founded the Franklin County Children's Literature Festival in 2000, which showcased national children's literature authors. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by: her husband; her sons; her brother, Larry Roeder of Hiawatha, KS; her brother, Dan Roeder, his wife, Laura, and their children, Becky and Alex, of Overland Park, KS; her brother, Dave Roeder of suburban Washington, DC in Maryland; her sister, Kathryn Roeder, his husband, Bernie Devlin, and their daughter, Summer, of Pittsburgh, PA; and her sister, Karen Underwood, and her sons, Justin and Adam Richter, of suburban Los Angeles, CA. Her spirit endures in the hearts and minds of all the students, whether child or adult, who had the pleasure of having her as a teacher. EDUCATION: Gerry graduated from Baileyville Benedict High School with the class of 1968. She graduated from Kansas State Teaching College in Emporia in 1971. In 1992, she received a master's degree from Kansas State University. OCCUPATION & BUSINESS: She was an elementary teacher thirty-two years, who taught in Overbrook, McDonald, Tipton and Central Heights in rural Franklin County. She also taught adult classes at Neosho County Community College satellite campus in Ottawa. MEMBERSHIPS: She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa. She was active in the local National Education Association, serving as local president and chief negotiator, as well as being a delegate, along with her husband, to several national conventions. Over the course of her career, Mrs. Getty received numerous awards including Who's Who Among America's Teachers; the 1995 Viking of the Year; the 2001 Outstanding Reading Educator from the Franklin County Reading Council; and the 2002 Kansas Reading Association Professional Literacy Award. She also founded the Franklin County Reading Festival in 2000, which showcased national children literature authors. SERVICES: Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa, at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2004. OFFICIATING CLERGY: Fr. Tod Ziegler. IN STATE: Mrs. Getty has been cremated. A Rosary will be said at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, followed by a family visitation. CEMETERY: There will be a family inurnment at a later date. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorials to Franklin County Children's Literacy Festival, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.