Obituary of Richard Gerla

A Funeral Mass for Richard L. Gerla, Jr., 62, Troup will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 3, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Jacksonville, with the Reverend Mark Kusmirek officiating. Burial will be in the Griffin Cemetery under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home, Troup. A Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Friday, November 2, at the funeral home. Mr. Gerla died Wednesday, October 31, 2007 in a Tyler hospital. He was born April 15, 1945,194 in El Campo to the late Richard L. Gerla, Sr. and Antonia Angeline Hubenak Gerla. He is a veteran of the US Army and served in the Vietnam War. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Houston and his master's degree in counseling from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville. He married Jacqueline Kay Parten January 18, 1969 in Houston. He was a math teacher at Carlisle ISD. Mr. Gerla was an avid sportsman who loved to fish and hunt. He was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, and teacher. Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Jackie Gerla of Troup, a son, Jeffrey Jack Gerla of Troup, an adopted son, Chad Meroney of Troup; his mother, Tonnie Gerla of El Campo; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Anthony Gerla, of El Campo, Lawrence and Susan Gerla of Louise, and Ray and Kathy Gerla of El Campo; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jack and Jeanette Parten of College Station; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Suzanne and Kendall Hay of College Station; and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Lawrence Gerla, Ray Gerla, Anthony Gerla, Chad Meroney, Brent Hay and Joe Reed. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Parten, Kendall Hay, and Robert Milne. If desired, memorials may be made to the Richard L. Gerla, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, Carlisle ISD, P O Box 187, Price, Tx 75687 Visitation will be from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday, November 2, at the funeral home.