Gelea Morris Speck

Gelea Morris Speck, nee Karraker, 83, of Waterloo, IL, died October 31, 2018, in Waterloo, IL. She was born May 7, 1935, in Cairo, IL.

Gelea is survived by her children Blaze (Rhonda) Morris, Kelly (Rick) Shilliday, Robin (Clay) Siedle, Tracy (Tom Van Buren) Morris, Lance (Mary) Morris, Candace (Karl) Buckman, Shaleen (Kevin) Grabill, grandchildren Aubrey (Sean)  O’Reilly, Kayla (Dave) Keeney, Jake (Raakhi) Morris, Austin Morris, Coley (Jeff) Hoffmann, Zach Buckman, Sophie Morris, Isaac Buckman, Theo Grabill, Raleigh Grabill, 5 great grandchildren, her brother Kenneth ( Donna ) Karraker of Vancouver, Washington , sister Marilyn Satterfield of Memphis, TN nieces, nephews , best- friend Gloria Linnertz and her cat, Sam.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ward and Dorothy Karraker of Cairo, IL and her husband, Gordon Speck.

Gelea grew up in Cairo, IL, graduated from Arizona State University and brought her family to Waterloo to teach English at Waterloo High School from 1968 until she retired in 2002. She enjoyed being a member of Sister Cities –Portaloo, Retired Teachers, and the Red Hats.  She had a great love of traveling and with her husband, Gordon, had seen much of the world. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials and contributions can be made to:
National Parkinson’s Foundation or Family Hospice, Belleville, IL

Memorial Visitation:
11 AM until time of service Sunday, November 4, 2018 at Quernheim Funeral Home

Memorial Service:
1 PM Sunday, November 4, 2018 at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo, IL
Pastor Michael Southcombe officiating