Obituary of Geraldine Spurlock Brown

Geraldine Brown was born on Nov 5th, 1931 in Owensboro, Kentucky to George and Mabel Kieser. Jerry, as she liked to be called at that time was an avid reader and decided after high school to see the world and join the Air Force. At Langley Air Force Base in Virginia she met and fell in love with James H. Spurlock. The couple were married and not long after discovered that they were to be blessed with identical twin daughters. Sharon and Sheila were born in June of 1953. Since the babies were two months premature they needed round the clock care so Jerry moved home to Kentucky to get the much needed help from her parents. Then Jerry began her five decade career with General Electric in Owensboro. The Spurlocks went on to divorce and Jerry met the love of her life, Bryant Brown, a few years later. General Electric moved Jerry to Palo Alto, California in 1959 and Bryant soon followed. She raised her twins without any financial assistance from her ex-husband and even though she wasn't a high wage earner. She scrimped and saved because her life’s ambition was to send her girls to college. We remember how proud she was the day our Stanford acceptance letters arrived. We’ll never forget her telling us that she couldn’t wait to share the news with her boss in Palo Alto, who had a daughter of the same age going off to college (to a local state university.) Jerry moved up steadily within her company and eventually went into outside sales when the twins were in college. She thoroughly enjoyed the travel this afforded her and especially enjoyed the cruises and other travel opportunities that she and Bryant were able to enjoy. The twins enjoyed a special bond with Bryant and loved him like a father. She and Bryant married after the twins were married in a ceremony in Reno, Nevada. She enjoyed playing golf with Bryant, reading, hiking and they were both very active in their church. They especially enjoyed spending much quality time with their five grandchildren. Since both daughters and their families lived nearby they were able to attend many of the grandchildren's baseball, basketball, softball and soccer games. They loved to have the grandkids sleep over on the weekends and so a close bond was formed with Mémé and Papa by all five grandchildren during their youth. At some point Geri decided she didn’t like spelling her name like a boy any more and switched to the female diminutive version. She and Bryant moved up to Lincoln Del Webb in 2003 to help her daughter Sheila raise her children. They became very active with the 1st Baptist Church in Lincoln, which later became known as First Street Community Church. Bryant and Geri were SO LOVED by their church community. Shortly before Mom had an official diagnosis of the cause of her memory issues Mom decided she wanted to go on a special cruise with her daughters. She chose a 30 day cruise from SF to Australia. As it turned out Sheila had started a new job and was not able to take that much time off, but Geri and Sharon made the best of it and set sail in Sept 2012 on the trip of theirlives. I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to enjoy these lovely tropical destinations and incredible Princess Cruise line food and entertainment with my wonderful mother for 30 full days before the Alzheimer’s could really start affecting her abilities. In 2015 Geri was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the same illness that she nursed her Mom (2001) and Bryant (2009) through. Daughter, Sheila was fortunate enough to be able to nurture her though this illness and continue to take her to church and formed loving bonds with these wonderful parishioners. What a magnificent group of people! During these years cherished daughter, Sharon was able to visit often with her twin and Mama AND visit our church family. Geri spent her last 3 years at Oakmont of Roseville in their Memory Care unit, but enjoyed so many of the activities, like art and music and field trips with Sheila (and Sharon when she was in town), to many wonderful places! She really enjoyed her last years despite this horrible disease, which comforts all of us who loved her so! After her passing, due to COVID, so many dear friends reached out to the twins to tell them what a special friend, mentor and second Mom Geri had been to them. We continue to be amazed at how wonderful our mother was, not just to her family, but to so many people that touched her life! A special thank you to ALL of her loving Oakmont staff!!!!! Especially but not exclusively, Lance, Tina, Bobby, Mike, Mahdre, Theo and William, with love and appreciation. Geri is survived by daughters, Sharon Ladrech (Gene), Sheila Volarvich (Dennis deceased), granddaughter Brittany Silbaugh ( Jason), grandsons Bryan Ladrech (Lesley), Brendt Volarvich, Braden Volarvich and Bryce Volarvich, granddaughter Amanda Volarvich Berkey (Aaron), and great grandchildren, Ava and Alex Berkey, Isabella Volarvich, Addison Silbaugh and Rowen Silbaugh.