Gerald Lee Edris, 81, Marion, passed away at 5:00 am on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Millers Merry Manor in Marion, IN. He was born in Bluffton, IN on Monday, April 17, 1944, to Lawrence and Dorothy (Boone) Edris. On June 13, 1970, he married Cheryl D. Cargar at the Liberty Center United Methodist Church in Liberty Center, Indiana.
Gerald was called into the ministry at the age of 36. He graduated with honors from Indiana Wesleyan University (then Marion College) with both his B.A. and M.A. degrees. He and Cheryl pastored 20 years in the Indiana North District of the Wesleyan Church and are members of The River Wesleyan Church in Marion. Gerald was one of the founding members of Sonlight Wesleyan Church in Bluffton, and the first church he pastored was Emmanuel Community Church in Rockcreek Township outside of Bluffton, Indiana.
Gerald was a 1962 graduate of Rockcreek School, Wells County. Prior to the call to ministry, Gerald was a mechanic and service manager in the Bluffton and Fort Wayne area, having worked at Flaningam and Son, Moore Chevrolet, and Reimschisel Ford in Bluffton and Rice Oldsmobile in Fort Wayne. Gerald, Max, and their dad, Lawrence, were often found working in the family garage in Rockcreek Township, Wells County. Gerald and his dad restored a 1926 Hudson Rumble Seat Coupe. He and his dad were members of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club and attended several antique car shows.
Gerald was a Sergeant in the Army National Guard of Indiana in Bluffton’s Troop B, 1st Squadron, 238th Cavalry.
In addition to wife Cheryl, survivors also include his daughters, Lori (Chris) Wright of Huntington; Deborah J. (Riley) Farrell of Fort Wayne; son, Matthew L. Edris of Marion; son-in-law, Lemuel Dees of Ft. Wayne; grandchildren, Havilah and Israel Dees, Ayden Collier, and Eleanor and Ava Farrell. Gerald is also survived by his sister, Judith K. (Charles-Chad) Garrett of Bradds, OK; and brother Charles “Larry” L. Edris of Fennville, MI.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Dorothy Boone; brother, Max L. (Connie) Edris; and sister-in-law, Sherry Edris.
The family will receive visitors from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, Storey Chapel 400 E. Main St., Gas City, IN.
A funeral service to celebrate Gerald’s life will be held at 12:00 noon on April 10, 2026, with one hour of visitation at 11:00 am at Eastview Wesleyan Church 414 N. 10th St., Gas City, IN. Pastor Mark Atkinson will be officiating with burial following at Emmanuel Cemetery 2115 N 500 W, Bluffton, IN 46714.
Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
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