Jeri Lou Tatken, of Ballwin, Missouri, passed away on Monday, September 25th, 2017, unexpectedly but peacefully of natural causes.

She was born January 17, 1942, in Port Huron, Michigan, to Corbin Aldrich, a farmer, and Catherine (Stinson) Aldrich, a teacher, and raised in small-town rural Berville, Michigan.

Jeri and her daughters, Lorann and Annice

After her 1959 graduation from St. Clair High, where she played sax in the marching band, Jeri moved to Detroit, studied executive administration at the Detroit Business Institute, and was a trained professional ballroom dancer and instructor at the Detroit Arthur Murray Dance Studio.

She married Morton J. Tatken in 1962 and had 2 daughters: Annice in 1963 and Lorann in 1967. They made their home in Southfield, Michigan, where she was an active and community-oriented stay-at-home mom for 10 years. During that time, she served as secretary on their subdivision board, chaired the PTO Ways and Means committee, fought for school millage proposals, and had the honor of being hand-picked by the Mayor of Southfield to serve on a community planning commission.

She began working in 1977 for Southfield Public Schools, first in the counseling center at Thompson Middle, then as Registrar for Southfield High in 1985, where she coached and ran the Cheerleading program for more than a decade.

Jeri and her Grandchildren

She divorced in 1992, retired in 2001, and moved to Ballwin (St. Louis), Missouri, to be closer to her grandchildren. To stay busy and productive, Jeri worked part time as office manager of a salon, where many of her dearest friendships were formed, and eventually was an in-home elder caregiver until the day she died.

She loved country music, working in her yard, keeping current on the news, playing bridge and canasta, antiquing with her daughter, and attending her son-in-law’s live jazz saxophone concerts. She was a gifted freelance wreath and floral designer and loved to decorate her home.

She devoted her life to the needs of others, from babysitting grandchildren, caring for the elderly, to feeding an array of backyard birds, deer and local wildlife. She loved to feel needed and was very present for those she held close. She grew deep roots wherever she was planted.

Jeri was beautiful and stubborn. Quick witted and fun. She stood up for what she believed in and lived life on her own terms. She was loved by many, and left us too soon. She will be terribly missed.

She is survived by her beloved children, Annice L. Tatken (Maureen Geoghegan) of Chicago, Illinois, and Lorann “Lori” (Tim) Cunningham of Ballwin, Missouri; 3 cherished grandchildren, Corbin R. Cunningham, Piper L. Cunningham and Sadie K. Cunningham, all of Ballwin, Missouri; her grand-dog Pixie, and her 2 dear rescue cats Natalie “Natty” and Sherona “Rona.”

She was preceded in death by her mother, Catherine Elizabeth (Stinson) Aldrich (Sept. 8, 1992); her father, Sabin Corbin Aldrich (Oct. 16, 1993); and her ex-husband Morton J. Tatken (Feb. 14, 2012).

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no formal service, but private memorials are being planned for a future date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Stray Rescue of St. Louis, 2320 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103, www.strayrescue.org/donate; or to McCaskill for Missouri (the campaign to re-elect Sen. Claire McCaskill) at www.actblue.com.