Gerri Hunt

Gerri Hunt had the last word for the last time on April 16, 2025 when she passed away in her home in Kountze, Texas. Having argued down every last doctor, nurse, and home health provider when bringing in outside care or moving to a facility skilled at meeting her needs was suggested, Gerri proved herself correct when she told them all that “my kids will take care of it.”

Born a Yankee on May 27, 1937 – to parents who insulted her by insisting she was actually not in charge just yet – Geraldine Margaret Corby (but never insult her by using her full first name) could do three things really well: pinch a penny, spend a penny, and create beautiful and functional art.

Being raised during wartime and later running a household as the wife of an educator made Gerri an expert on great ways to save a little money, a skill she was very proud of. As a girl and young woman, she enjoyed inexpensive activities such as trips to the lakes in the mountains of her home state, Montana, and fishing at the Little River with her friends as an adult once her kids were off to school. She worked for a doctor when she met her husband, Robert, and what he always remembered most about that time in their lives was that “tap tap tap” of her shoes on the tile floor because she had covered the worn soles with taps. That thrifty nature really appealed to Robert; if you asked Gerri, she was busy avoiding the advances of Willie Nelson when, somehow, she met her thrifty match in Robert.

The two married, leaving Willie “Suffering in Silence,” and together honed Gerri’s second great skill: spending a penny. After spending years raising their children, having coffee in the mornings with her neighborhood friends, and getting the first drink in the drive through because she was so thirsty her tongue was white, Robert retired and Gerri’s road to Queendom commenced. The two could be found spending as many pennies as they had pinched while they enjoyed retirement and their days together. Most days, the Hunts traveled the road from Kountze to Beaumont in search of two of Geri’s favorite things: a good deal at the mall and a big plate of barbecue crabs. There was almost nowhere she could ask to go that he wouldn’t take her; except to New England, which was always the vacation that got away from her.

Twice a year, Gerri and Robert traveled to Las Vegas to try their luck. Gerri’s vice of choice was the penny machines (though she might sometimes spring for a turn or two on the nickel machines if she was really feeling lucky). In between, they kept up on their skills by practicing lever pulling and button pushing at Delta Downs.

Gerri loved to spend her pennies at the mall, as well, and later at Chico’s. She probably single handedly put the children of employees at Sperry and Vera Bradley through at least college, if not graduate school. Her love for shopping mostly skipped a generation, and Robert was always looking for a clearance sale, so her granddaughter and namesake, Corby, took many trips to Parkdale Mall. Gerri always asked, “That’s cute – you would wear it, too, right?” Which is how Corby ended up with one or two tops that really suited a sixty-year-old lady when she was in high school. Despite her willingness to always spend a few pennies on gambling, barbecue crabs, good clothes, tacky neon-colored shoes, and any meal that she got to eat out, Gerri still kept her salad dressing for about ten years before throwing it away (or getting mad at her children and grandchildren when they threw it away without asking first).

Besides being a talented shopper, Gerri was a talented creator. She could sew almost anything you asked for, including pajamas and clothing for her children and grandchildren, beautiful quilts, handmade Teddy bears, Raggedy Ann dolls, and curtains made from bed sheets. The one caveat was that if she was making it, you were getting what she thought looked good. You liked your dresses just a little above the knee? Well, Gerri thought mini skirts were better, and you were getting one.

In addition to sewing things treasured by her family, Gerri painted many works of art. Her landscapes and floral works were beautiful, but her family especially loved her portraits. And when she asked, “Did I do good?” they always answered “Yes.” Many of them became the subject of a painting, but none were as big as her own self portrait – because what good is being the Queen if you can’t flaunt it a little?

In 2017, Robert died and with him, so did a little bit of the sparkle in Gerri’s crown. She might have come into the world believing she was the boss, but it was Robert who finally treated her with the deference she knew she was due.

In her later years, Gerri developed a love for a good pair of pajamas (with pants!). She even specified to her hospice nurse that she wanted to “go in my pajamas.” Along with relaxing her dress code, she relaxed her rules too. Where her children weren’t allowed to eat except at the table, and her grandchildren could eat where they wanted, but not from her plate and not too many of her “expensive snacks” like pistachios or jellybeans. Her great-grandchildren could have whatever they wanted at Meme’s house, even the corn off of her plate.

Gerri is survived by her children, Mickey Hunt and wife, Debra, of Round Rock; Holly Hunt Weyler and husband, Randy, of Wildwood; and Melanie Hunt of Kingwood. Gerri was the beloved Meme of Nathan Hunt and Kerstin; Jared Hunt and Krystan; Corby Weyler Casey and Stephen; Liane Hunt and Cody; Hunter Flory; Shea Sullivan; Kelby Weyler and Courtnie; and Keeley Collora and Timothy. She will also be missed by her great grandchildren, Leland Hunt, Jude Hunt, Hadley Hunt, Henry Casey, Ben Casey, Hannah Hunt, Brooks Weyler, and Briggs Weyler, who will miss meeting his Meme earthside by a few months.

Besides her husband and personal hype man, Robert, Gerri was predeceased by her sister, Liane (who donated her name to one of Gerri’s granddaughters); the mother she was born to, Esther Ness LaFrenier; and the parents who raised her, Porter and Gina Corby.

A graveside service will be held for Gerri at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Old Hardin Cemetery, Old Hardin Cemetery Road, Kountze, under the direction of Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze.

Nathan Hunt, Jared Hunt, Hunter Flory, Kelby Weyler, Gene Brown, and John Ferguson will serve as pallbearers. Roy Langston will serve as an honorary pallbearer.