Vernona Geraldine (Gerrie) Gaston, of Pensacola, Fla., passed away Nov. 2, following a short but valiant fight against cancer.  She was 91.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, James A. Gaston, also of Pensacola.

Gerrie Gaston was born in Greenville, Ala., and was raised in the Wildfork Community of Butler County, Ala.  She was the daughter of Zell G. and Bertie Mae Couey, both deceased, and had a brother and two sisters, all also now deceased.

She married James A. Gaston in 1941 and, following his service in the United States Army Air Corps at Eglin Air Force Base during World War II, they moved to Pensacola in 1948, where they resided for the remainder of their lives.

Gerrie worked at various local kindergartens until she was employed as a teacher’s aide by the Escambia County School System, where she was employed for the final 10 years of her working life.

While she resided in Pensacola she was successively a member of Whitfield Memorial Baptist Church, Myrtle Grove Baptist Church and Hillcrest Baptist Church.  She enjoyed, and was actively involved in, the choir at each of the churches she attended.

Her survivors include two sons and their wives, Joel and Diane Gaston of Pensacola and Kerry and Kathy Gaston of Montgomery, Ala.; a daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Eddie Simmons of Pensacola; four grandchildren, Mrs. Bethany Shelton of Jacksonville, Fla., Brian Simmons of Pensacola, Ms. Melanie Gaston of Montgomery, Ala., and Mrs. Meredith Stuart of Chongqing, China; and five great-grandsons, Aubrey James and Jonathan Randall Shelton of Jacksonville, Benjamin Gaston of Montgomery, Jack Stuart of Chongqing, and Stephen Simmons of Pensacola; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Dunklin and Daniels Funeral Home in Greenville, Ala., on Wednesday, Nov, 6, with visitation from 10 a.m.- 11 a.m., and services at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Larry Gaston presiding.  Burial will be in Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery in the Wildfork Community with Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home directing.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the American Cancer Society, the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery Fund at 251 Greenbriar Lane, Greenville, Ala. 36037, or the Joyful Sounds Choir of Hillcrest Baptist Church on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola.