Mary Kathaline Geise

Mary Kathaline Caldwell Geise, 98, of Bentonville, died Thursday, June 2, 2011, at her residence. Born February 8, 1913 in Craig County, Virginia to Francis M. and Elizabeth K. Jones Caldwell, she was the only daughter of their ten children. On October 18, 1931, she was married to Paul L. Geise at the Fourth Street Nazarene Church in Connersville. Mary was a charter member of the Bentonville Fire Department Auxiliary and served on many committees. She was an excellent seamstress, making three of her daughters’ wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. Mary made many crafts and some quilts for the Bentonville Fire Department Auxiliary fundraisers and enjoyed making crafts for gifts to her family. She also became a skilled still-life painter and candy maker. Survivors include three sons: Eugene Geise and his wife, Mary Alice, of Falmouth; Jerry Geise and Jean Stewart, of Connersville; David Geise, of Valparaiso; four daughters: Juanita Berry, of Lakeland, Florida; Virginia Stiers, of Milroy; Mary Lou Rea and her husband, David, of Knightstown; Betty Thomas and her husband, Don, of Rushville; twenty-two grandchildren; forty-three great-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; eighteen great-great-grandchildren; ten step-great-great-grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by: her husband of fifty-three years, who died in 1984; a daughter: Phyllis Jean Sasser, who died in 1970; her parents; nine brothers. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville, with Eric Hopkins officiating. Interment will follow in Bentonville Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Sunday from 5 until 8 p.m. where memorial contributions may be made to the Bentonville Fire Department. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, visit www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.