Pearl (Welker) Gouge
Pearl L. Gouge, age 94 of Shelby, died Thursday, November 5, 2009 at the Crestwood Care Center surrounded by her friends and family.
She was born March 8, 1915 in Crestline Ohio, the daughter of the late Frederick Lee and Harriet (Bamberry) Welker. Pearl was a graduate of Tiro High School. She retired from Shelby Autocall in 1980 after many years of service. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Shelby. She was a beloved and caring aunt and friend to many.
She is survived by a sister-in-law: Dora Welker of Shelby; a nephew and his wife: Herbert Lee and Peggy Welker of Plymouth; 3 nieces and their husbands: Deborah Welker of Shelby, Pauline and Donald Shifley of Galion, and Esther and Jon Murray of Hazelwood, MO. She was preceded in death by her husband: Calvin W. Gouge in 1993, a brother: Herbert Welker and a sister, Phelma Phillips.
Friends may call on Saturday November 14, 2009 at the Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, from 10-11AM where funeral services will be held at 11 AM by Rev. Steven C. Bond. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Plymouth. Memorial expressions may be made to the First Lutheran Church or American Diabetes Association. On-line condolences may be made at
penwellturner.com
The family would like to thank Dawn Murray and the nurses and aides at Crestwood Care Center for the loving care they showed to Pearl over the years.
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Family_of: Pearl Gouge
Your_Name: Karen Barnett, LPN Crestwood Care Center
Date: 09-11-10
Condolence:
To Pearl’s family and friends:
Please know that I am praying for all of you during this difficult time of loss of such an adorable and beautiful lady. She always told me “I wish we would have met earlier in life. I think we would have made each other a really good friend.” My last conversation with her she said she was tired. I know her heart she wanted to live if she could be home but she was ready to go if she couldn’t go home. She loved her house and her family. She talked of the great-nieces and nephews….she always said well there’s no such thing as “greats” they are my family. She thought of all of you daily. Lee she was so appreciative of your support. She talked of the years of you growing up living next to her. I just want all of you to know, which I’m sure that you do, how much you all were on her mind and heart and the love she felt for each one of you down to the newest member of your family. She always wanted to show off the pictures she had of the “kids”.
For me Pearl was my encourager and cheerleader as I continue to get healthier. She would always tell me how well I was looking or something I was wearing was too big now and say “You shouldn’t wear that shirt anymore it doesn’t show all your hard work.” Her encouragement was so wonderful to me. One statement she made to me….she was asking me one day how much weight had I lost and I told her she said “Wow that’s a lot of weight when you lose it a teaspoonful at a time.”
Dawn know that she cherished you as family. Hope you can find another “Pearl” to befriend and make a difference.
She will be greatly missed from our Crestwood Family. May your memories and love help to fill the void her passing has left.
I would like to leave the words to Brad Paisley’s song in her honor and a link to the video for those who would like to listen to it as a tribute to Pearl.
Pearl I love you and you have been embedded into my heart for the rest of my life here on this earth. One day I will see you again and we’ll have eternity to work on that friendship. Rest in God’s loving arms.
WHEN I GET TO WHERE I’M GOING
When I get where I’m going
on the far side of the sky.
The first thing that I’m gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly.
I’m gonna land beside a lion,
and run my fingers through his mane.
Or I might find out what it’s like
To ride a drop of rain
(Chorus:)
Yeah when I get where I’m going,
there’ll be only happy tears.
I will shed the sins and struggles,
I have carried all these years.
And I’ll leave my heart wide open,
I will love and have no fear.
Yeah when I get where I’m going,
Don’t cry for me down here.
I’m gonna walk with my grandaddy,
and he’ll match me step for step,
and I’ll tell him how I missed him,
every minute since he left.
Then I’ll hug his neck.
(Chorus)
So much pain and so much darkness,
in this world we stumble through.
All these questions, I can’t answer,
so much work to do.
But when I get where I’m going,
and I see my Maker’s face.
I’ll stand forever in the light,
of His amazing grace.
Yeah when I get where I’m going,
Yeah when I get where I’m going,
there’ll be only happy tears.
Hallelujah!
I will love and have no fear.
When I get where I’m going.
Yeah when I get where I’m going
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Zfx5qra_g
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Family_of: Pearl L. (Welker) Gouge
Your_Name: Bill and Kim Murray
Date: 09-11-10
Condolence:
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone there in the Ohio family during this time. Lots of love to you all,
Bill and Kim Murray
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Family_of: Pearl Gouge
Your_Name: Dawn Murray
Date: 09-11-11
Condolence:
Dear Pearl’s loved ones:
I am so sorry for your families loss but I know she is at peace now with her beloved Cal, that is what she wanted, she missed him every day. I think she could tell you the year, month, day, and minutes she had been without him.
I want all of you to know what a privilege it was for me to take care of her in the last few years. Her and I had become very good friends, she was my confidant at times. In the last years away from her home she wondered why she was still here on this earth, and I would say “to be my friend.” I would tell her God had a plan and it would be on his time.
She was a very strong willed person, the one thing her and I had in common is that we pretty much tell it like it is! We respected each other regarding that and understood one another because of that trate. Although her body was giving out she always had a strong mind. Which I always reminded her of that blessing.
She loved each one of you very much and was proud of her family. But was especially fond of her beloved Debbie, you were the apple of her eye, don’t ever forget that. She had a special place in her heart for you!!
Thank you so much for allowing me to be apart of her life and into your extended family. I love you all as I loved her. And will miss her very much.
With Sincere love to all,
Dawn, Alex and Samantha Murray
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Family_of: Pearl Gouge
Your_Name: Mike Gouge and Family
Date: 09-11-12
Condolence:
What a wonderful lady. Great memories of lazy summer days spent on the swing in the back yard. Always the encourager, she never had a bad word to say about anyone or anything.
May God Bless you Aunt Pearl. Now, give Uncle Calvin a big hug for us!
Mike, Kelly (Will) Gouge, Courtney & Katelyn Gouge
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Family_of: Aunt Pearl (Gouge)
Your_Name: Mike and Sue Kennedy
Date: 09-11-14
Condolence:
I wish we could have been there with you today to celebrate the long and beautiful life of Aunt Pearl. I have been thinking about all the summers in Ohio and the family ties we have there. Know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. She is with Uncle Cal and her legs are working again.
Love you all,
Sue and Mike