A chaser, a fighter, a seeker, an enthusiast, a feeler –

Gerry was all these things.

With a spirit for connection, Gerry chased experiences in her hometown of Kiowa, Kansas to Wichita, Kansas, Southern and Northern California, Guam, and St. Louis, Missouri, that allowed her to be closely surrounded by those she loved as well as new people she could learn from. It was throughout her time working as an administrative assistant, office manager, and in medical supply and retail sales that she was able to expand her desire for human connection beyond family and friends to novel people with many stories to share. It was as if all said experiences still didn’t overflow her cup – leading to her notorious car rides from California to Florida while pitching tents along the way, and cross-country train ride from St. Louis to Arizona surely connecting with every passenger aboard. More recently, she developed and maintained beautiful connections with new friends over bowling weekly, playing card games, completing puzzles, etc. while enjoying her favorite Starbuck’s Frappuccino or Mexican food.

With a hunger for knowledge, Gerry sought new topics of interest stemming from her avid love for reading. Frequently, a subject in her most recently finished book would become what her next book was about – a cyclical pattern of a question leading to a book, that book leading to another question, and that question leading to another book. 

As an enthusiast for busy-minded hobbies that exercised creativity and physical and cognitive strength, throughout her years, Gerry rather quickly became fluent with tennis, bowling, knitting and crocheting, creating stained glass, gardening, putting together puzzles, and card games. Though incredibly competitive while playing sports and card games, it can be argued that her independent hobbies were where she truly won. Thanks to Gerry’s patience, focus, and compassion, her four grandchildren hold on tight to hand-knitted blankets in her memory and hundreds of children around St. Louis were prized with colorful, silly, and hand-painted rocks planted by her in local parks and neighborhoods.

With a heart so tender and empathetic, Gerry felt emotions strongly and beautifully. It was often that Girl Scouts selling cookies at the entrance of a grocery store, a story from her granddaughters about a child with special needs conquering an educational milestone, or an unexpected win by the St. Louis Cardinals or St. Louis Blues would illicit tears of joy to stream down her face. The simple things in life were the most beautiful to her. 

With an innate and fierce drive to fight, Gerry overcame her battle with cancer. Let it be remembered that rather than a loss, she won an eternity of peace, comfort, and a renewed community with her loved ones who have gone before her such as her parents, Roy and Wilma (Goebel) Keifer and brothers, Robert and Donald Keifer. Her victory will forever be celebrated by her sister, Ruth Ann (Thomas) Beard; twin brother, Terry Keifer; her children, Mike Stein, Rhonda (Stein) Efken and her husband, Joel, and Brent Gingrich; her grandchildren, Justin, Rachel, Rebecca, and Joseph Efken; nieces Debra (Gregory) Ferris, Sherrill (Michael) Carper, LaDonna (Keifer) Crothers, Regina (Howard) Kamke; and nephew Raymond (Linda) Keifer.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, April 25th from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at

Rose Hill House

225 W.Rose Hill Avenue

Kirkwood, Missouri  63122

We invite all acquaintances, friends, and family to attend Gerry’s celebration (dressed casually in bright colors) to remember her and to enjoy a sweet treat in her honor.

A burial service will be held in Kiowa, KS on Saturday, April 27th at 1:00 PM at Riverview Cemetery

May her soul rest in peace

November 6, 1948 – March 23, 2024

In lieu of flowers, and if you feel led, consider a donation to the following in her name:

Pink Eraser Project: www.pinkeraserproject.org

Evelyn’s House: www.foundationbarnesjewish.org/Give-Hospice