MILESTONE: Gerald C. Cleveland

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Gerald C. Cleveland, 78, a retired school principal and minister, went to be with our Lord Nov. 20, 2013.

Gerald was born on March 13, 1935, to Omar and Zula Cleveland in Cottondale, Texas. He was united in marriage to Carolyn Kay Hollaway on March 29, 1957, in Baytown, Texas. Gerald graduated from Paradise High School in 1953. He received a bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian College and a master’s degree from Sam Houston State. Gerald served as the second mayor of the City of Paradise, as principal in Santa Fe I.S.D., and he ministered for Christ in Whitewright, League City, Galveston, Hitchcock, Santa Fe, Cottondale and Crafton – all Texas cities. He also held gospel meetings in Barry and Quincy, Ill., Baytown, Texas, Pagosa Springs, Colo., Cody, Wyo., and spoke at the Grand Teton Family Gathering in Wyoming.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Carolyn Cleveland, of Paradise; his daughter, Patti Kay Tax and husband Joe of Paradise; his son, Jerry Don Cleveland and wife Lidia of Santa Fe, Texas; his daughter, Lori Kay Rhodes and husband David of Grand Prairie; eight precious grandchildren: James, Eric, Jacob, Miranda, Ashley, Victoria, Jonathan and Katie; his sister, Georgia Ruth Morris and husband Hulen of Paradise; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a large host of friends. His hobbies were reading, gardening, building bird houses, writing children’s stories and poems, doing things for others and playing with his grandchildren.