Maryan Gertson

Maryan Ceil Gertson, age 90, passed away peacefully at her home on January 21, 2026. She was born on November 25, 1935, in Montalba, Texas, to Marion and Cecil Austin. When Maryan was 8 years old, she welcomed her brother, Marion Bruce (Sonny) into the family.

Maryan spent her early childhood in Montalba before her family moved to nearby Palestine, Texas. When she was in the seventh grade, the family relocated to East Bernard, where Maryan met the love of her life, Dan Gertson, while attending the small local school. She fell in love with Dan as a high school freshman. Before completing high school in East Bernard, her father’s work took the family to Agua Dulce. There, Maryan thrived academically and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1954.

Maryan and Dan’s love endured the distance, and they were married on June 12, 1954. As Maryan once wrote, “Aside from the wedding vows we made that day, we made another to God that He would always be the center of our marriage and family.” Dan and Maryan were married for nearly 72 years.

The couple made their home in Dan’s hometown of Lissie, where Maryan embraced life with purpose and determination. From the beginning of their marriage, she set a goal of having six children—a goal she proudly fulfilled with two daughters and four sons. Family was always her highest priority. While raising six children, Maryan also worked as a businesswoman, serving as the bookkeeper for Dan’s farming and ranching operations, as well as Lissie Wonder Gardens and Lissie Flying Service.

Summers in the Gertson household were filled with activity and togetherness. The entire family participated in baling hay, harvesting rice, and working cattle. Maryan faithfully delivered children and hearty, home-cooked meals to the rice and hay fields, often turning workdays into family picnics wherever Dan happened to be working. During rice harvest, she and her daughters prepared hot meals each evening for Dan and their sons after long days in the fields. Maryan believed deeply in the importance of gathering around the dinner table as a family every day.

Her faith was central to her life. Summers also meant Vacation Bible School, where Maryan played an integral role at Lissie United Methodist Church as both teacher and coordinator. She was deeply active in church life, serving for many years as an adult Sunday School teacher and in numerous other capacities. If the church doors were open, Maryan and her family were there.

Maryan had a lifelong love of travel. She carefully planned summer vacations for her family, traveling by car, plane, train, and motorhome to destinations including New York City, Washington, D.C., California, Wyoming, Florida, and Colorado. As her children grew older, she organized family ski trips to Colorado during Christmas holidays. Later in life, Maryan and Dan traveled extensively overseas, ultimately visiting all seven continents. Travel became her greatest hobby and joy.

She was also an avid bridge player, forming many cherished friendships through her various bridge groups. Maryan delighted in entertaining these friends in her home.

Maryan’s love for children and family shone most brightly in her devotion to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Eager to share her passion for travel, she and Dan created a cherished tradition of taking each grandchild on a special trip upon graduating from high school. These unforgettable journeys ranged from Hawaii to travels across Europe and cruises through the Mediterranean, each one creating lifelong memories.

Christmas was as dear to Maryan as traveling. She and Dan spent days transforming their home with her Christmas villages, seventy-five nativity scenes, and three beautifully decorated trees. Outside, their lights illuminated the Lissie prairie each year, often with the joyful help of grandchildren and friends. Maryan also took great pride in directing the annual grandchildren’s Christmas program, a tradition filled with love and laughter.

Easter held deep spiritual meaning for Maryan, providing a special opportunity to share her faith with her grandchildren. The annual grandchildren sleepover always began on Maundy Thursday, with dinner and church, followed by a thoughtful Easter lesson at home. Throughout the year, Maryan searched for the perfect book or approach to make each lesson meaningful. Good Friday was reserved for dyeing eggs and Easter egg hunts, joyful traditions that reflected her love, faith, and devotion to family. Maryan was preceded in death by her parents, Marion and Cecil Austin, and her grandson, Jonathan Kramr.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Dan Gertson; her children: Terry Wicke (Sandy), Danny Gertson (Cindy), Ronald Gertson (Patsy), Rhonda Kramr (Ricky), John Gertson (Anna), and Stephen Gertson (Kathy). Her grandchildren: Matthew Wicke (Sarah), Sarah Stanfield (Craig), Daniel Gertson (Theresa), Christopher Gertson (Brittany), Rachel Peters (Sean), Timothy Gertson (Lindy), Stephanie Adamson (Philip), Renee Simmons (Bill), Adam Kramr (Alexis), Megan Kramr (Laura), Amber Kubena (Abram), Kristen Alvarez (Franklin), and Kara Kurtz (Tyler).  Her great-grandchildren: Logan, Lucy, Lily, Foster, Ruby, Parker, Caroline, Ellis, Archer, Holly Kate, Jacob, Nathan, Michael, Ezra, Elias, Emma, Wells, Rocky, Luke, Claire, Samara, Oliver, and Everett.  She is also blessed to have many surviving nieces and nephews.

Through the years, Maryan developed a true friendship with her hairdresser, Jo Hale. We thank you for your compassion and help. The family extends a sincere and heartfelt thank you to Maryan’s devoted caregivers: Alberta Brown, Johnetta Fry, Varris (“Nell”) Felton, Aerial DeVille, and Brenda Cunningham, whose loving care meant so much.

Maryan’s legacy of love, faith, and adventure will continue to inspire all who knew her. Her warmth and generosity touched countless lives, and her spirit lives on in the traditions and memories she created with her family and friends. She will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lissie Methodist Church in Lissie with burial to follow at East Bernard Methodist Cemetery in East Bernard. Serving as pallbearers are Matthew Wicke, Daniel Gertson, Christopher Gertson, Timothy Gertson, Adam Kramr, Sean Peters, Craig Stanfield, Philip Adamson, Bill Simmons, Abram Kubena, Franklin Alvarez and Tyler Kurtz.

Memorials may be made to Lissie United Methodist Church, PO Box 668, Lissie, TX 77454 or Rice Medical Center Employee Volunteers PO Box 277, Eagle Lake, TX 77434

Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.