Geraldine English

Geraldine Elizabeth Forrister English, age 79, of Murphy, North Carolina, passed away on January 1, 2026 in West Plains, Missouri.

Born on January 26, 1946, in Murphy, North Carolina, Geraldine was the daughter of the late Will and Myrtle Cavendar Forrister. She spent much of her life in Murphy, where she worked for 27 years at Levi Strauss & Company until the plant closed in 1999. She later worked part-time for the United States Forest Service, assisting at the orchard and cleaning the facilities.

Geraldine was known for her generous spirit and her love of celebrating others, often sharing her ice cream cake for birthdays. She enjoyed spending time outdoors, cardinal red birds, crocheting baby and lap blankets, and caring for her beloved dog, Copper. She also spent many years alongside her family raising tobacco crops and gardening. Above all, she cherished her family and friends. She enjoyed her adventures with Trevor, Courtney, and Fisher Grant, Murphy, NC.

She is survived by her daughters, Becky (Roger) Wernsing of West Plains, Missouri, and Gail (Norman) Daniels of Haines City, Florida; her grandchildren Jeremy (Maria) Daniels of Temecula, California; Jessica (Justin) Haranda of Davenport, Florida; Heather (Ed) Jackson of Murphy, North Carolina; Matt Wernsing (Clarissa Zimmerman) of West Plains, Missouri; and Jennie Daniels of Haines City, Florida. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Justin (Jr.) and Maddison Haranda of Davenport, Florida, Lukas Daniels of Temecula, CA, and Leilani Harris and Penelope Daniels of Haines City, Florida. Also cherished as family are Scott (Bobbie) Wood and Stephanie (Sawyer) Jeckstadt of West Plains, Missouri. Her claimed great-grandchildren Brooks Zimmerman, Slade and Stone Jeckstadt of West Plains, Missouri; Geraldine was preceded in death by her husband, W.D. English; her sister, Martha Ann Rich; and her brother, Harry Forrister.

Visitation will be held at Cochran/McDaniel Funeral Home in Murphy, North Carolina, on Saturday January 10th from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery.

Officiating the service will be Terry Davenport and Raymond English.

Pallbearers will be Trevor Grant, Chad Cook, Anthony Robinson, Josh Marr, Sawyer Jeckstadt, and Oliver Minor.

Geraldine will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.