Geri Wickers, 82 of The Villages, FL, passed away on September 9, 2017 the Shands Hospital at U.F. in Gainesville, FL. Geri was born in Brooklyn N.Y. on July 26, 1935 to the parents of Arthur & Kathleen (Taylor) Doherty.
On New Year’s Day 1978, God shared Geri with me and my 2 small children, ages 2 and 3 at the time of our meeting, Wayne Jr. and Rialate’. We love her so much! Geri was literally “The Wind Beneath My Wings”. Geri preferred to stay in the background and allow others to get the credit for anything she did. She gave me the confidence to venture into unknown waters, and with her constantly at my side, we entered the restaurant business. She worked 16 to 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, as most of you know, she was tireless! Friends called her the “Energizer”, indeed she was. That was just one of her many gifts, gifts that made those around her feel special!
As one of her many, many friends once remarked to me, “Just being around Geri, makes me feel like a better person.” In 40 years of life with her, I never heard her say a bad word against anyone, (except maybe a few politicians). She always made you feel welcome. She was always ready to help, of course all you friends already know that. This past week, the world thought we witnessed an incredible storm, not quite so. It was simply the enormous multitude of tears shed for Geri by her legion of friends and the Angels in Heaven, where she now resides with her Father. Thank You GOD!, for sharing her with us.
The family will receive friends for a visitation on Tuesday, September 19th from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 1511 Buenos Aries Blvd, The Villages, with entombment to follow at Highland Memorial Park in Ocala.
