Dolores Frances Gearon, daughter of Frank and Ann (née Pavlik) Havrilla, was born April 10, 1936, in St. Louis, Missouri. At an early age she was baptized at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic
Church in Soulard, and later attended its parish elementary school, and graduated in 1954 from St. Frances DeSales High School.

Upon graduation, she taught for one year in an area Catholic school before marrying Joseph Michael Gearon, Jr. on September 3, 1955. Dolores and Mike enjoyed 41 years together until
his passing in 1997. Dolores and Mike raised five children: Maureen (Bill) Bryan, Elizabeth/Lisa (Scott) Parry, Joseph (Debbie) Gearon, Stephen Gearon and Sean, who passed away in 2008,(Paula) Gearon. They also had a daughter, Susan Gearon, who passed away in infancy.

Dolores is also survived by her daughter of the heart, Wanda (Tim) Wygal and her many grandchildren: Ashley (William) Purvis, Megan (Paul) Probst, Sydney (Travis Partin) Bryan, Michael Gearon, Christopher Parry, Rachel (David) Grieshaber, Ryan Parry, Joseph (Heather Hamilton) Gearon, Emma (Charles Turner) Gearon, Mary Gearon, Justin Wygal, Cassie Kreitler, Breah Kreitler, Zachary (Hilarie Nigro) Kreitler, Alyssa (Kevin Khammanivong) Kreitler and Joseph Kreitler; great-grandchildren: Kaylee, Bobby and Ellie Purvis; Sean and Parker Probst; Audrey, Edmund and Jane Grieshaber, and AnnMarie and Jonathan Kreitler.

Dolores is also survived by her sister, Patricia Walsh, and brothers, Francis “Fran” Havrilla and Robert “Bob” (Bonnie) Havrilla, as well as her brother-in-law, Archie Speer, along with other
relatives and many friends. In addition to her children, Sean and Susan, Dolores was preceded in death by her sisters, Mary Ann Mitchell and Theresa Speer, as well as brothers-in-law, Barry Walsh and Jerry Mitchell. As a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Dolores will be remembered as a kind and loving family member and friend to those whose lives she touched. She had a wicked sense of humor, and her sarcasm was legendary. In Spanish Lake, where Dolores and Mike raised their family, she was an involved volunteer as room mother, Den mother, Girl Scout leader and in the American Legion.

In 1980, Dolores, her husband and two youngest sons moved to Lexington, Kentucky for Mike’s job, where she remained until 1998. While in Kentucky, Dolores returned to the workforce after decades of being a stay-at-home mom, beginning as a bank teller and quickly rising to Auditor and finally Branch Manager. During this time, she was active in the Kiwanis and other volunteer organizations.

Grandma D (Mimi to her NC grandkids) was a fierce and funny grandma whose greatest joy was being around all the grandkids. Thanksgivings became the time when the entire family gathered in Lexington to celebrate both it and Christmas. Grandma loved spoiling the grandkids with presents, cooking big meals, playing poker, and smoking cigarettes.

In 1998, Dolores moved to North Carolina to be near her daughter, Lisa, and her family. In later years, she lived near Maureen, Joe, and Steve in both St. Louis and Hodgenville, Kentucky, before finally returning to her hometown of St. Louis in 2017 until her death. Dolores experienced generally good health until the advances of age began to weaken her condition. A broken hip began a path of several surgeries and other health issues that diminished her mobility.

On October 22, Dolores tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined in her home. After a fall on October 25, she was admitted to Mercy South Hospital, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia. Unfortunately, her condition rapidly declined, and she departed this life on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at the age of 85 and a half.

She will be missed by those who loved her and were blessed to have known her.

Visitation and Service information is as follows:

Visitation:
Noon-1:00 p.m.
Peace Lutheran Church
737 Barracksview Road, 63125

Service:
1:00 p.m.
Peace Lutheran Church
737 Barracksview Road, 63125

Dolores will be interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with her husband at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dolores’ memory to Stray Rescue of Saint Louis or to Randy’s Rescue Ranch.