Gerry died peacefully on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at age 93, with family at her side. Among many blessings, her brief final illness was NOT Covid-related.
She is survived by daughter Julia Harper and son-in-law Russ Harper of Rockville, VA, son Kurt Prister of Fairport, NY, grandson Andrew Prister (Laffan) granddaughter Kelly Prister, many Boltons, several FOP’s (read on) and countless friends.
We will gather for an upbeat memorial service and celebration of her life at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 4, 2021 at Perinton Presbyterian Church, 6511 Pittsford-Palmyra Road (Route 31) in Perinton, NY. In Gerry's honor, please wear something Bright and Casual--not funereal! As a Covid precaution, the Church requires masks for everyone. Interment will follow later at St. Patrick's Cemetery on Murray Street in Mount Morris, NY.
If you're unable to join us, do consider Gerry’s favorite Bible passage, 1 Corinthians 13, about Charity or Love (depending on your translation.)
Mom received superb, loving care for the past two years, enjoying Rochester Presbyterian Home’s Memory Care Residence at Creekstone. Instead of flowers, please consider a charitable donation in her memory at rph.org
THE REST OF THE STORY
Gerry would have opened her autobiography with, “I have lived a wonderful life!” She was born at home in Mount Morris, NY, on January 6, 1927, the only child of John L. and Elizabeth C. Davis.
From the time she was old enough to see over the counter, Gerry helped out at the Davis Drug Company and presided over the soda fountain. (The address, 75 Main Street and phone number, 104, were seared into her memory.) Maybe you sipped coffee with her at one of the rescued, beloved ice cream tables!
As a teen, Gerry played Boogie-Woogie and Blues piano with Jerry Rolison’s Dance Band at the Ladelfa Hotel, cementing a life-long love of music and especially Broadway musical theatre.
After graduating high school as Salutatorian, she attended Syracuse University on scholarship. In 1946, she made the brave, life-changing decision to take a year off and accompany her parents on an 8000-mile, cross-country trailer trip. A highlight, revisited annually on t.v., was seeing the famous Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
Gerry then transferred to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, where she was chapter President of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. Find her on page 222, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, 1948-1949.
After a short teaching career, Gerry became Editor for the out-of-town edition of Kodakery, the Eastman Kodak Company newspaper, in Rochester, NY. In the community, she served the AOPi alumnae chapter for more than fifty years.
Married to Chuck Prister in 1954, Gerry was a devoted wife, mother, and daughter. Together, they lived and breathed Modern Western Square Dancing. She epitomized the leadership “Role of the Caller’s Wife.” Over forty years, first with family and later in retirement, they traveled most of the United States.
A natural social organizer and connector, Gerry nurtured many lifelong, multi-generational family relationships, known tongue-in-cheek as “Friends of Pristers” or FOP’s. As one of them likes to say, she had “Pizzazz!”
Instead of family reunions, we had FOP mini-conventions. Without fail, she concluded every gathering with her favorite (perhaps original) toast, which began “Whenever we meet, we smile!”
After being widowed (but thanks to friends, never alone) for a decade, Gerry married her high school sweetheart, Keene Bolton, in 2004. Together for ten years, they enjoyed winters in Florida, where it was magic to watch an Atlantic Ocean sunrise from bed, then observe beach life.
They relished a week in the Adirondacks, day trips around the Genesee Valley, the landmark architecture of New York State, and train watching from their East Avenue balcony.
Gerry’s last grand adventure was a bucket-list trip to Washington D.C. to attend the Kennedy Center Honors with Kurt. Of course, they visited nearby FOP’s! In later years, whenever Julia came North to visit, they would organize the continuing stream of greeting cards and reinforce touchstone memories.
Mom cherished family traditions. Think of her the next time you enjoy old-fashioned ice cream, eat a popover, taste See’s candies, carve the Easter ham, receive a single red rose, smell lilies of the valley, play table tennis, or see a flight of pelicans at the beach. She would be thrilled.
Gerry’s Dad was her hero and role model in the art of diplomacy. She enjoyed no greater honor and gift in life than being your friend. During this difficult time, as she would lovingly insist, “Take Care of You and Bye for Now!”
We will gather for an upbeat memorial service and celebration of Gerry's life at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 4, 2021 at Perinton Presbyterian Church, 6511 Pittsford-Palmyra Road (Route 31) in Perinton, NY. In her honor, please wear something Bright and Casual--not funereal! As a Covid precaution, the Church requires masks for everyone. Interment will follow later at St. Patrick's Cemetery on Murray Street in Mount Morris, NY.
In her youth, Gerry's favorite hymn was "Were You There?" Enjoy this version: Were You There? (YouTube)
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