Colleen Edwards Geren passed away Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Funeral: 1 p.m. Monday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: The family will receive friends 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home. Colleen Edwards Geren was the daughter of Winnie Smyth and Crawford Overton Edwards, granddaughter of Casswell Overton Edwards and the great-granddaughter of Lemuel J. Edwards, who settled on the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in present-day southwest Fort Worth. Colleen, born Aug. 12, 1928, had the unique experience of being raised on the ranch located on the banks of the Trinity River, in the same house as three previous generations of her family, with the rapidly growing city of Fort Worth at her doorstep. In 1954, she and her brother, the late Cass O. Edwards II, formed Cassco Land Co. Inc., to thoughtfully develop the family ranch. Colleen was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and was actively involved in all aspects of her family's lives, including service as a Cub Scout den mother and Camp Fire leader. She always looked forward to her bridge and rummikub games with her many friends, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an inspiration to all, overcoming multiple health problems spanning the last 30 years. Colleen attended public schools in Fort Worth and the Mrs. Simple School in New York City. She was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church. She was also a member of the Junior League, Jewel Charity Ball, The Assembly, Lecture Foundation and Ray Reimers Bible Class. She was actively involved in the community, serving as a longtime Stock Show parade committee member and was county coordinator for the 1964 George H.W. Bush Senate campaign. She was co-recipient, with her brother Cass, of the Charles Goodnight Ranching Heritage Award on behalf of the Edwards Ranches. She was honored by the Easter Seal Society and the Child Study Center for her volunteer work. The family deeply appreciates the doctors, nurses and staff who took such wonderful care of her through the years. In addition to her parents and grandparents, Colleen was preceded in death by her sister, Mary "Sweetie" Kelly, and her brother, Cass O. Edwards II. Survivors: Her beloved husband of over 58 years, Preston M. Geren Jr.; children, Dr. Beauford T. "Toby" Erwin III, Charles L. Geren, Preston M. "Pete" Geren III and wife, Beckie, Eva Geren Motheral and her husband, Jim, and Chandra Edwards Geren and her husband, Robert Thomas; grandchildren, Emily Geren Leonard and her husband, Mike, C. Patrick Pate Jr. and his wife, Melanie, A. Preston Pate and his wife, Lindsay, Mason L. Pate, Natalie Erwin Nagim and her husband, Ryan, Holly Erwin McCarty and her husband, Kent, Paxton E. Motheral, Sarah E. Motheral, Tracy Geren Venable and her husband, Aaron, Sarah Ann Geren and Mary C. Geren; great-grandchildren, Preston M. Leonard and Laurie K. Venable; nieces and nephews, Clay and Wendy Hook, Cass and Scout Hook, Cass Edwards III, Missy and Randy Rodgers, Mary and Marty Richter, Crawford and Mary Jane Edwards; sister-in-law, Jennie Beth Edwards.
Published in Star-Telegram on September 15, 2012