Services for Gerald Maurice Monson, 83, of Palestine will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Southside Baptist Church with Dr. Stephen Holcombe officiating. Burial will follow at Land of Memory Cemetery under the direction of Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home.

Mr. Monson died Saturday at Childress Regional Medical Center.

He was born Dec. 1, 1924, in Tioga, Texas to Elmer Rudolph Monson and Vivian Gertrude Price Monson.

Mr. Monson had lived in Palestine since 1985 coming from Texas City. He was a deacon and member of Southside Baptist Church. He retired from JCPenney and was a member of the Rotary Club for over 50 years holding leadership positions in several cities.

Mr. Monson was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Lois Monson, in September 2000; his parents; and a brother, Donald Monson.

He is survived by a son, Gerald M. Monson Jr. and wife Berva of Childress; two daughters, Connie Briscoe and husband Phil of Palestine and Nicki Owens and husband Bill of Texas City; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Bryce Briscoe, Brad Briscoe, Reese Monson, Scott Monson, Clayton Owens, Michael Brinkley, Brian Rhodes, Bryan Ford, Tony Undercoffer, and Steve Dophied.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 pm today at Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Southside Baptist Church Building Fund, 1500 Crockett Road, Palestine, Texas 75801.