SOUTH CHINA — Geraldine Richardson Brackett, 92, died Tuesday, April 18, at home in South China.

She was born Oct. 7, 1924, in North Monmouth, the first of five daughters of Jesse A. and Evelyn Jordan Richardson. Gerry graduated from North Monmouth Academy and received her B.S. degree in teaching from Farmington State Teachers College. Teaching was her passion and she touched the lives of many young people during her 47-year career. She started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Sandy River Plantation, taught many grades in Rangeley and Auburn and finished at Weare Baptist Christian School after her official retirement.

She married Reynold C. Brackett (Pen) on July 12, 1946, and together they had three children, Nancy, Mark and Hope. One of their greatest sorrows was the loss of Nancy too early in 1976. They resided in Rangeley until their retirement when they moved to their dream home in Henniker, N.H. They were happily married for 44 years until Pen’s death in July 1990. At 73, she built a new home she loved in Loudon N.H., where she lived until she moved to South China to be with her daughter.

Wherever Gerry lived she made wonderful, lasting friendships from work, church and other organizations. She was caring and generous with her time and resources. She would offer her home for Bible studies, meals and gatherings. Many had the opportunity to taste her fabulous cooking. She had many interests including cooking, gardening and traveling whenever she had the opportunity. She especially loved trips with the family in their camper. She loved the ocean, lighthouses, loons, cardinals and flowers. Gerry had a strong faith and was very active in church activities in each community in which she lived. She was a member of the Rangeley Free Baptist Church, the Weare Baptist Church and the Landmark Baptist Church in Loudon. She volunteered for the John O. Cates van in Loudon, N.H., where she made a difference by assisting with transporting local residents. She was a lifelong member of the NEA and MEA teachers’ associations. In her retirement, she enjoyed the Loudon Young at Heart group and had many happy memories of their excursions and events.

Gerry was predeceased by her husband, Pen; her daughter, Nancy Dunham; her sisters, Janice Doyan, Jean Brackett and Pauline Gove.

She will be sadly missed by her son, Mark, and wife, Anne, and children, Zachary, Bethany, Nancy and Taylor of Pembroke, N.H.; her daughter, Hope, and husband, Nelson Pendexter, of South China and their children, Rebecca Viola and husband, Joe, of Gardiner, Katrina Herrick and husband, Charlie, of Damriscotta and Crystal Scott and husband, Gary, of Monmouth; her grandson, Cliff Dunham and wife, Maghean, and daughter, Erin of Topsham. Special nieces and nephew that she loved like her own, Cheryl MacPherson of Otisfield, Karla Bransford of Sumner, Roberta Stewart of Rangeley and Barry Brackett of Sommerville; great-grandchildren, Aleah and Lauren Whitten, Kyle and Emily Scott and her special grandniece, Heather MacPherson and many other nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She is survived by one sister, JoAnne Ricker of Waterville.

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Geraldine R. Brackett