Geraldine E. (Reed) Bretthauer

Enid News and Eagle

March 21,2011

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Geraldine E. (Reed) Bretthauer, 94-years young, entered the gates of heaven on Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Visitation for Geraldine will be 6-8 p.m. today at Wilson Funeral Home. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2011, at Wilson Funeral Home. The Rev. Kay Buchanan officiating. Burial will follow in Pond Creek Cemetery under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home of Pond Creek.

Geraldine was born in Jefferson, Okla., on Dec. 19, 1916. She was one of six siblings and the youngest daughter to Clayton Taylor and Mable Maude Reed.

Both of Geraldine’s parents were original settlers of the Cherokee Strip. Clayton made the land run and staked his claim eight miles southwest of Medford, where he resided and later met and married his wife Mable. Clayton and Mable lived and raised their family, retiring from their farm and relocating to Pond Creek in 1944.

Geraldine attended Jefferson School, graduating with the class of 1935. During high school, her passion was basketball and she enjoyed playing guard on the Jefferson High School girls’ basketball team.

In 1949, in Oregon, Geraldine met and married Willis (Bill) G. Bretthauer. Geraldine and Bill relocated to Southern California in 1952, where they lived for 21 years. Upon retirement in 1973 Geraldine and Bill moved to Pond Creek.

Geraldine was a gifted baker, known for her angel food cakes and homemade pies. She also enjoyed volunteering her time and was a long-time member of both the Jefferson Rebecca Lodge and the Pond Creek American Legion Auxiliary. The balance of her free time was spent playing bingo several times a week and fishing. For many years Geraldine always kept her fishing pole in her car, ready for a quick fishing trip.

Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; an infant son, Clayton; her daughter, Maude Ileen; and her two brothers and three sisters.

Geraldine is survived by two daughters, Kay Sanders of San Bernardino, Calif., and Janet Hayes of Pond Creek, Okla. She also leaves behind eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many more loving family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Pond Creek Cemetery Fund.