Copeland - Mary Joan Gerstner, 85, died September 19, 2018 in Montezuma. She was born on January 9, 1933 in Herford, Texas the daughter of Roy and Nancy Lucille (Bivins) Burges.

As a child, Joan moved throughout the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle with her family. She attended school in Boise City, Oklahoma and in Bagdad, Arizona where she graduated from high school. On July 5, 1957, she married Angelus Eugene "Rocky" Gerstner in Guymon, Oklahoma. He preceded her in death on April 19, 1994.

Rocky and Joan moved to Copeland in 1959 from Boise City, Oklahoma. They raised three children together. After the children were grown, they moved around the state for Rocky's job with the railroad but always maintained their home in Copeland. In 1992, with Rocky's retirement, they returned to Copeland permanently. Joan loved to play bingo, crochet, and visit with friends at the Copeland Senior Center.

She was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church of Garden City, past member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church of Satanta, and Women's Auxiliary member of both the Copeland American Legion Post 369 and the V.F.W. Post 2279 of Garden City.

Joan is survived by three children; son Randel Gerstner of Copeland, two daughters, Brenda Jo Gerstner of Denver and Donna Gerstner of Garden City; one sister, Jewel Ann Aulds of Marshville, Missouri; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Vigil Service will be held at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Garden City on Sunday September 23, 2018 at 7:00 PM. Funeral mass will be held at the church on Monday September 24, 2018 at 10:30 AM with Rev. Warren Stecklein presiding. Burial will be at 2:00 Monday at the Copeland Cemetery. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel, Sublette on Sunday, September 23, 2018 from noon to 4:30 PM. Memorials are suggested to the Copeland Senior Center in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.