Gae Sharon (Hendrie) Honzell, age 78, of Greenville, went to be with her Lord on February 9, 2023, at her home with her family by her side.
Gae was born June 24, 1944, in Erie, Pennsylvania. Shortly thereafter, her family moved to Texas, where she attended Overton Schools. She married James Honzell, also from Overton, on November 6, 1965. She went on to earn a degree in education from East Texas State University.
She was a beloved teacher at Greenville Middle School for 34 years. She acquired a passion for history from her father, who on their road trips back to Pennsylvania led her through many a battlefield and never let a historical marker go unread. In her position as a seventh grade Texas history teacher, she passed on this love of history to thousands of students. She was very involved in Ridgecrest Baptist Church, serving in the choir, AWANAS, Vacation Bible School, For the City, Tools for School, and as a Sunday School teacher during her 50-plus year membership. Gae was a voracious reader, where it was not uncommon for her to read more than ten books per month. She loved to travel with friends, spend time with her family, especially her beloved grandsons and great-granddaughter Hendrie, cheer on the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Golden State Warriors, and eat at every restaurant she came across.
Gae is survived by her two daughters, Kara Honzell of Waco, and Dina Claude of Greenville, her son-in-law, David Claude, grandson, Matthew and wife, Sarah, grandson, Nathan and wife Morgan, grandson, Andrew, and her namesake, great-granddaughter, Hendrie. She is preceded in death by her husband, James, parents, Bill and Betty Hendrie, and her brother, Vaughn.
Visitation will be Monday, February 13, from 5:00-7:00 at Coker-Mathews Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be Tuesday, February 14 at 10:00 at Ridgecrest Baptist Church with a graveside service in Overton City Cemetery, Overton, Texas at 3:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library.
