Joni Marie Gerster

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Joni Marie Gerster, 28, of Schell City, Mo., died in a car accident on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, while on her way to ring the bell for the Salvation Army. She was born Aug. 17, 1978, in Nevada, Mo., to Harvey and Connie Gerster.

She was a member of the Schell City Christian Church since Feb. 17, 1991. She attended the Dederick Christian Church. She attended school in Schell City all 13 years where she was in the last graduating class of Schell City High School in 1996. After graduation, she attended Pittsburg State University where she was a member of the Pride of Plains Marching Band. She also played in the concert band. While living in the dorms, she was a member of RHA-Resident Hall Assembly. She completed three years a Pitt State and then went on to work at Wal-Mart. She was the manager of the photo lab in Nevada. She was a loving and devoted mother, daughter, and sister.

She is survived by daughter, Lillie; parents, Harvey and Connie Gerster; grandparents, Elmo Gerster and Bettie Fox; brother, Jordan Gerster, all of Schell City; sister, Jina Potter and husband Travis, Caney, Kan.; one nephew, Ethan Potter. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Fern Gerster and Calvin Fox.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the NEVC Elementary campus in Schell City, with pastors Dan Hamel and Tyler Stewart officiating. Musical selections were provided by Margaret Charbonneau, Julie Wilson, Diane Eslinger and Vicki Hillsman. Pallbearers were Jason Gerster, Tim Fox, Kenny Fox, Tristan Hallam, Travis Corbin and Luke Gayman. Interment was in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Schell City.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Salvation Army or the Show-Me Christian Youth Home.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, Schell City.