Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....GEROW, LEO I. September 25, 2009
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Gina Brown http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006026 September 29, 2009, 3:41 pm

News Star World - September 29, 2009
LEO I. GEROW
Havenbrook Funeral Home Norman, OK

Leo I. Gerow, known to many as Jerry, passed away September 25, 2009 at his 
home. He was 84 years young.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, September 30, 2009, at 
St. Charles Borromeo Chapel located in the St. Joseph Parish Family Life 
Center, with Father Edward Menasco, celebrant and Deacon Jeff Willard, 
assisting.

Leo was born in Fitchburg, MA on September 17, 1925 to the parents of Eva and 
Isadore Gerow. He had one brother, Ronald Wilfred Gerow. He lived there until 
joining the Air Force following graduation from St Bernard's High School.

In the Army-Air Force he qualified, as a Navigator-Bombardier on a B-25 which 
was the plane used in the first bombing mission on Tokyo with Billy Mitchell 
as leader. He was awarded the ATO Ribbon and Victory Medal WW II.

His dream was to be a pilot and he kept volunteering for all these schools 
waiting for a space in pilot training to open. Even though this dream was 
never fulfilled, he was extremely proud of his service and because of it, he 
met the love of his life and true soul-mate, Margaret Elois McBroom while at 
the roller rink in Monroe, LA, on a pass from Selman Field. He and his love, 
Elois, knew that first night they were destined to be together, marrying soon 
after on May 2, 1946.

They had two children, Rose Marie Smith, of Norman, and Margaret Elois Craig, 
of Newalla, both born in Fitchburg, MA. Between the births of his daughters he 
graduated Magna Cum Laude from Worcester School of Business Science. Soon 
afterwards Leo and family moved to Ruston, LA where he was employed by William 
A Marbury Co. and became an officer in that company.

While in Ruston he was an active member of the Kiwanis Club and became 
President in 1965 and later became Lieutenant Governor. He was also an Eagle 
Scout leader achieving the Vigil Honor of the Order of the Arrow for his 
distinguished contributions above and beyond.

Rose Marie gave them two grandchildren, Kimberley McDaniel of Noble, OK and 
Christopher Smith, married to Liberty Smith, of Allen, TX. From their 
granddaughter Kimberley, they were blessed with three great-grandchildren 
John, Kyle and Michael McDaniel of Houston, Texas.

When their daughter Margaret married Ray Craig, Sr. August 17, 1991 they 
received two more grandchildren, Ray Craig II and Edena Pauline Craig, of 
Ninnekah, Ok. Each brought forth great-grandchildren Ray Craig III (Trey), and 
Erik Holman, respectively.

After retirement, Leo volunteered at the Norman Police department and at his 
church, St. Joseph Catholic church where he served as Eucharistic minister at 
church, Norman Regional Hospital and at the Veteran's Hospital in Norman.

If flowers are not a preference, in memory of our father, the family requests 
donations be made to either the Boy Scouts of America or the St. Vincent De 
Paul Society.


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