Mona Mae (Gentry) Geyer

Mona Mae Geyer, nee Gentry, of Carbondale, Illinois, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2024, at the age of 94. Mona was born on May 12, 1930, in Boonville, Indiana, to Carl Gentry and Anna Williams. The daughter of two working parents, Mona became a surrogate mother to her three younger brothers, developing an immense capacity for caring and a fierce, unselfish devotion to those she loved-qualities that would define her for the rest of her life.

A lifelong lover of books – as a girl she would often climb a tree to the roof of the family garage to find a quiet place to read – Mona was also a locally famous musician. A sweet-voiced soprano who showed “decided talent,” she was asked to sing at funerals, family reunions, P.T.A meetings, and weddings as early as 8 years old. She performed on the radio, won the lead role in a local operetta and shined in her high school singing group, the Singerettes. She graduated as salutatorian of her class and received a four-year music scholarship to Evansville College.

She left college to start a life with her high school sweetheart, Charles Norman Geyer. They married on August 15, 1950. As the wife of a young medical student, she worked office jobs to support his schooling, following him from Indiana to Colorado and finally to Southern Illinois, where they raised a family.

Over the next seven decades, she gave unreservedly and unwaveringly of herself to her four children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren, supporting every goal large or small.  She was a fantastic homemaker and cook – everything from blueberry pancakes on Memorial Day to summer fish fries, unforgettable Thanksgiving feasts, and delectable Christmas cookies. But she also managed rental property and learned the stock market, helping to secure the family finances and passing those lessons down. After Norman suffered a debilitating accident in 2004, she devoted herself wholly to his care until his death on September 12, 2016.

Mona was also preceded in death by a son, Gregory Philip Geyer; a granddaughter, Mackenzie Colleen Geyer; and her brothers, David and John Gentry. She is survived by her brother, Steve (Caroline) Gentry, daughters, Susan (John) Chaney and Gwen Geyer; son, Jeffrey (Sheri) Geyer; grandchildren, Eric (Melissa) Chaney, Brian (Stephanie) Chaney, Joshua Geyer, Eve Hunter, and Nathan (Claire) Geyer; and great-grandchildren, Olivia Chaney, Benjamin Chaney, and Delman Chaney.

Though your days of caring for us have ended, your lessons and example endure, and you will always be in our hearts.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, with Pastor Adam Jones officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.

Mona’s family would like to express a special thanks to her caregivers: Angie, Esther, Julye, Kathleen, and Sue. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

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