Gerry Dean Mooney

Gerry Dean Mooney, 82, Peru, Indiana, passed away at 7:18 P.M. on Monday, March 25, 2024, surrounded by her loving family at Blair Ridge Health Campus, Peru.

She was born on June 23, 1941, in southern Michigan, the daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Surface) Sousley. On November 23, 1985, in Kokomo, Indiana, she married Patrick Mooney, who survives her.

A graduate of South Bend Riley High School, Gerry worked in Kokomo, Indiana in various capacities over her career as a nurse and nursing professor. She earned an RN degree from the South Bend School of Nursing, a BS from Indiana University, and an MA from Ball State. As Director of Nursing at Ivy Tech Kokomo, she developed the school’s initial nursing program.

Gerry was a member of Mexico Church of the Brethren. She was an accomplished artist and loved playing board games (especially Scrabble and Sorry), sewing, baking, and getting into mischief with her sisters. Most of all, she loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Gerry is survived by her loving husband, Patrick Mooney, Peru; her son, Mark Birkey (Stephanie Bowen), New York City, daughters, Holli Kemmerling, Pittsboro, and Kristi (Mike) Shaffer, Amboy; grandchildren, Ethan (Hannah) Birkey, Kokomo, Alexander (Jaymee) Birkey, Madison, Wisconsin, Kyle (Whitney) Shaffer, Amboy, Devin (Brooklyn) Shaffer, Wabash, Ashlyn (Jordan) Christian, South Point, Ohio, and Ella Kemmerling; Pittsboro,  great-grandchildren, Landon, Logan, and Olivia Birkey, Kokomo, and Gunner, Oakley, and Wilder Shaffer, Amboy, sisters, Jeannie (Marvin) Galbreath, Nappanee, Margie (Mark) Nowicki, Mishawaka, and many nieces and nephews.

Gerry was preceded in death by her parents, Robert & Rebecca Sousley, her brother, James Sousley, her sister, Betty Taiclet, her son, Todd Birkey, and her daughter, Karla Birkey.

Funeral services for Gerry will be held at 3:00 P.M. Friday, March 29, 2024 at Mexico Church of the Brethren, Mexico, Indiana. Friends may visit from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Friday at the church. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Mexico, Indiana. Flowers in her memory may be sent to the church, and donations in her memory can be made to Mexico Church of the Brethren or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org). Arrangements by McClain Funeral Home, Denver, Indiana. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcclainfh.com