Geraldine Marie "Gerry" Pugsley

Geraldine (Wrinkle) Pugsley was born in Duncan, Oklahoma on December 12, 1923 to Herbert and Vesta Wrinkle. She attended Classen High School in Oklahoma City, where she was a top scholar, basketball queen, and girlfriend to a basketball overachiever and the love of her life, Charlie Pugsley. She attended a girl's "finishing school" in Missouri for one year and returned to the University of Oklahoma for her bachelor's degree with Phi Beta Kappa honors. Gerry's kindness was felt and remembered by many during her 97 years--from sewing beautiful Christmas, prom and school dresses for her daughters, to providing unconditional love and support for her children and husband, to delivering Meals on Wheels till she was older than those she delivered meals for, to playing the piano for her Sunday School class, and to the calm and caring nature with which she loved her grandchildren. There were many nights she would still be sitting at the sewing machine long after everybody had gone to bed. Cross words were rarely spoken by her. Gerry would occasionally be "miffed" or we would hear "oh poo" if she was really mad. Gerry would play golf with Charles, water and snow ski, camp, and watch endless hours of tennis, baseball and dance classes solely because her husband and children were involved in those activities. When Charles began to prefer home to travel, she signed up for the Friendship Force and traveled to Europe and Japan with the girls. Gerry was a recognized expert and collector of American brilliant cut glass and loved searching for treasures at estate sales. Her other hobbies included planting pansies and peonies, bridge, needlepoint and being an active member of PEO, her Church and numerous other philanthropic groups, all the while teaching middle school English and then selling real estate as her second career. Gerry and Charles were married in Norman, Oklahoma in 1946 until his passing in October 2019. Their love and devotion to each other was priceless. Their hug at the airport after her return from one trip with the Friendship Force drew several stares and smiles. Gerry is survived by her children Janet (Lyle) Chappell, Carolyn (Ray) Connell, Chuck Pugsley, and grandchildren Erin Connell and Charlie Connell. Gerry passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 in Wichita Kansas with her family at her side as sweetly and quietly as she lived. We know God received this beautiful, fun-loving, joyful, kind woman with open arms. Her family is sure she is singing The Hallelujah Chorus and Coffee Jive, and tapping her toes to Benny Goodman songs in Heaven. We love and will miss you. A gathering to celebrate her life with friends and family will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Meals on Wheels and PEO.