Gerald "Gerry" W Henderson

Gerald Wayne Henderson, known to friends and family as Gerry, passed away in the early hours of Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, at the age of 85.

Memorial services will be held on December 21, 2024 at 2 p.m. at the Marion Presbyterian Church. 

He was born March 1, 1939, in Garden City to John Elroy and Elene Ione (Whitaker) Henderson, who raised him in Lakin, just west of Garden City in southwest Kansas, where his father ran an auto body shop. During World War II the family moved to Wichita where his father worked for Boeing, but by the end of the war they returned to Lakin, and Gerry graduated from Lakin High School in 1957. He then completed a bachelor of arts in English at the College of Emporia. In 1962, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy.

Gerry's naval service included one year aboard the USS Aludra, a refrigerated cargo transport ship, where he was communications officer. He then transferred to the USS Genesee, a gasoline transport ship, where he served as executive officer and rose to the rank of lieutenant. The latter ship's duties included resupply of fuel to portions of Vietnam during wartime, for which Gerry received a Vietnam Service Medal. His active service ended in July 1966, after which he completed additional studies at the University of Kansas for the purpose of becoming a public school teacher.

Gerry's career in public education took him from Leavenworth to Hugoton, and by the end of the 1960s he'd married Patricia Cope and started a family. He completed a masters degree in educational administration at Emporia State University, and served as principal for Eudora schools, followed by Valley Center and El Dorado, Kansas. 

In 1980, his wife Pat had to fight breast cancer but lost, leaving Gerry with two young children, John and Barbra. By the summer of 1981, he had married Cathy, who brought her sons Scott and Andy Carter to the family.

When the opportunity came in 1985 to lead the United School Administrators of Kansas as executive director, Gerry moved his family to Topeka in 1987. Speaking on USA-K members' behalf, Gerry gained a reputation among state staff and elected officials in the Kansas Statehouse, and his input shaped many state actions for public education and its finances.

Gerry and Cathy moved to Marion in 1998 after he accepted the job of superintendent of schools for Marion-Florence USD 408. During his tenure, the district adopted a master strategic plan and guidance for its future, and he worked to improve the experience for staff, faculty and all students in the district. Before he retired in 2004, the district had consolidated its middle and high schools and expanded its building, refurbished its running track, and began a collaborative project to build what became the Marion Sports and Aquatics Center.

Gerry was active as a member and in several leadership positions at Marion Presbyterian Church. He sang with the choir and praise team, and attended an early morning Bible study group for over 20 years. It was through membership that he and Cathy saw an opportunity to serve their neighbors across Marion county with food and other support. An outreach effort that began at Marion Presbyterian became a cooperative donation effort from the local churches, and the original food pantry was expanded. In 2021, the food bank opened its current location at 906 East Main Street, the largest and newest industrial building in town.

Gerry is survived by his wife of 43 years Cathy (Franklin) Henderson; sister Rhonda (and husband Dan) Purcell of Wichita, sister-in-law Diane Henderson of Denver, Colorado; children Andy Carter of Chicago, John Henderson of Austin, and Barbra White with her husband Adam of Villa Hills, Kentucky; grandchildren Kathlynn Carter Neufeld and husband Tyler, Elizabeth Carter, Herschel Carter, Henry White and Norman White; and one great-grandson, Julius Scott "Jude" Neufeld. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Patricia (Cope) Henderson, son Scott Carter, and brother Donald Roy Henderson.

The family would like to thank Wesley Medical Center in Wichita and St. Luke Hospital and Living Center in Marion for their staff's excellent care in Gerry's final days. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Marion County Food Bank, via marioncountyfoodbank.org, or the Marion Presbyterian Church at marionpresbyterianchurch.com. Memorial donations can be sent to the church at 610 E Lawrence St., Marion KS 66861, with checks marked “Memorial.”