Geraldine McCormack Lanky

Geraldine McCormack Lanky, born November 10, 1923, died Saturday, July 15, 2017 at age 93 of natural causes. She lived with dementia for a decade.
Gerry was born in Glasgow, Montana to Francis DeSales McCormack and Sophie Kraushaur. She remembered the two day move from there to Great Falls, where she spent most of the remainder of her life, until a move to Missoula to be near family occurred in 1996.
Her sunny outlook on life was tested and “the sunny side” always emerged. Not begrudgingly, she spoke of the one dress she wore throughout her fourth grade year and of the rations during the depression. Her mother worked hard to keep food on the table and its sameness was not bemoaned.
Following high school where she cheered on those Mighty Bison, and following the war, she married Frank Lanky upon his return from the Battle of the Bulge, and had 3 children. She contentedly remained an active mother to her sweet daughter, Sheila, who was brain damaged at the age of 4, and remained at home until 2003. The greatest test of that sunny outlook was the unexpected loss of her sweet boy, Mac, at age 22, as the result of a highway fatality.
She did bookkeeping and tax preparation and taught the H&R Block tax school for many years. She was responsible for establishing the first special education program in Great Falls prior to its inclusion in public school programming. She also worked tirelessly as director of the Great Falls Housing Corporation during the dissemination of Boulder residents to community group homes. She ended her working career as bookkeeper and property manager for Tom Mather Realty in Great Falls.
She tap-danced, painted, read current events, raised and tested roses, loved ice cream and an occasional glass of pink wine with ice! She sang and whistled sweet tunes nearly every day and she smiled almost always.
Gerry was preceded in death by her mother and father, her two brothers and a sister; her husband, Frank, her son, Mac and daughter, Sheila.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Anne (Marvin) Smith of Missoula; grandchildren Kylie Barnes (Jesse) and Rye Smith; great grandchildren Asher, Cora and Eila Barnes.
A service will be held at Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway, on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. followed by an ice cream reception at the Smith home.