Francis Carl Gerity, age 87, of Orange, Texas, passed away at his home on Wednesday, August 30, 2017.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, on Saturday, September 16, 2017, at Dorman Funeral Home.  Rite of Committal and Interment will be held, following the funeral service, at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park, on Saturday, September 16, 2017.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 PM- 8:00 PM, on Friday, September 15, 2017, at Dorman Funeral Home. 

On Thursday, November 21, 1929, Frank was born, the eldest of five boys, to Earl and Eva Gerity, in Bennington, Vermont.  On September 9, 1947, Frank enlisted in the United States Air Force.  Frank retired on April 30, 1976, with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant, with a honorable discharge, following 28 ½ years with a specialty as an Air Traffic Controller Superintendent, and Chief Controller. While in the Air Force, Frank met and married the love of his life, Maryann Miller.  Frank met Marryann on a blind date and never looked back.  They were married for 67 years and raised four daughter, and 2 sons.  Together, the family traveled with him wherever he was stationed, which was many places; Florida, Bermuda, England, Japan, two tours in the Philippians Islands, among various other States.

Frank was an extremely hard working man.  After retiring from the Air Force, he went on to work as a Manager of Wyatt’s Cafeteria in Orange, Beaumont, and Port Arthur, and retired after 20 years.  After two retirements, Frank felt he just couldn’t sit still and needed to keep himself busy, so he got a part-time job at Wendy’s, working the drive thru.  After being on the job for a while, customers started thinking that he was Dave, the owner of Wendy’s.  He had the hardest time convincing customers that he was not Dave.  Frank was well known at Wendy’s for his ability to anticipate how much change to give back before the customer could hand him their bills.

Frank enjoyed spending time outside in his yard and fighting with the squirrels that were eating his tomatoes in his garden.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, who will be painfully missed by all who knew him.

Proceeding Frank in death are his parents, Earl and Eva Gerity; two sons, Mark Gerity and Dean Gerity; two brothers, Bob Gerity and Don Gerity.

Those who will cherish his memory most are his loving and devoted wife, Maryann; daughters Jo Stephens and husband, Ron, of Orange, Texas, Lynn Radford and ex-husband, Jim, of Christiansburg, Virginia, Anita Williams of Orange, Texas, and Anne Reed and husband, Darrell, of Orange, Texas; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, sister-in-laws, and many members of extended family.

Honoring Frank as Pallbearers are Keith Stephens, Kyle Stephens, James Williams, Chris Williams, Corey Gerity, and Tyler Williams

 Service Information