Geraldine (“Dean”) Hudson Morton passed away peacefully on May 8, 2026, in Wadsworth, OH surrounded by family, and she is now resting in God’s eternal peace. Dean was born February 12, 1939, in Three Rivers, TX to Clarence Darrow Hudson and Gladys May Farrier Hudson. She grew up in Palestine, TX where she attended Palestine High School and graduated as salutatorian. She was honored as Most Representative Girl and served as Drum Major of the marching band. Dean attended Texas Christian University, where she pledged Zeta Tau Alpha. In 1958, she married her high school sweetheart, Bob Smith. They moved to Irving, where they raised their three children.

Dean was a vibrant young mother who ran her household and cared for her children in an extraordinary way, never letting them forget how deeply they were loved. She was involved in every aspect of their lives, serving as PTA President and Girl Scout leader, once filling her entire home with boxes of Girl Scout cookies during the annual sale. She never missed a classroom holiday party, soccer game, track meet, basketball game, or piano recital. A woman of deep and abiding faith, Dean had her children in church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night. She provided them with a childhood full of encouragement, stability, and love. Though her marriage ended after 17 years, she remained steadfast in her faith and lovingly raised her children as a single mother throughout their high school years.

In 1979, she married A. Glenn Morton III, and together they shared many joyful years before Glenn’s death from ALS in 2010. Dean loved traveling with Glenn to castles and gardens throughout Europe and to beautiful cities across the United States and Canada. Historic homes were among their greatest passions. Together they purchased and restored a beautiful historic home in Waxahachie that was featured on the Gingerbread Trail Tour of Homes. In 1988, a movie was filmed there. They later moved to beautiful Cameron Park in Waco and eventually to Hawkins, Texas, where they created the beloved Yellow Rose Ranch.

During these years, Dean was active in her church and was usually busy with a home renovation project of some kind. She frequently hosted beautiful parties in her lovely homes. She was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, enjoyed working on the Hudson family genealogy, and was known as a talented mahjong player. Meanwhile, her children were graduating from college, marrying, and beginning families of their own. Determined to keep their Ohio grandchildren close to their Texas grandchildren, Dean and Glenn created an annual summer tradition known as Cousins’ Camp. For a decade, family gathered for a magical week filled with swimming, fishing, horseback riding, haunted train rides, arts and crafts, guitar lessons, “Christmas in July,” cooking teams, campouts with s’mores, July 4th parades with decorated golf carts and barking dogs and fireworks, and countless treasured memories. It became a defining tradition for generations of their family.

Dean and Glenn later moved to Tyler, where they were active members of First Presbyterian Church and their community. In recent years, following Glenn’s death, Dean lived in Emerald Bay and Bryan/College Station before moving to the Inn at Coal Ridge in Wadsworth OH, where she lived near her daughter Melinda and her growing family.

Dean is survived by her three children, Kristi Smith Francis (Bill) of Dallas, Melinda Smith Butcher (Jerry) of Doylestown OH, and Brett Smith (Sandra) of College Station, her stepdaughter Amy Morton Virgadamo (John) of Colorado Springs, her sister Brenda Spears of Tyler TX, her brother Randy Hudson (Peggy) of Mineola TX, and her sister-in-law Sally Beane (Mike) of Kilgore TX. She also leaves behind her 8 grandchildren who cherished their “Dede”: Katherine Francis, Rebekah Butcher Hoerger (Steven), Sarah Butcher Largent (Edward), Hannah Butcher, Ryan Butcher (Jayne), Taylor Smith Trzeciak (Mitch), Hudson Smith (Ashley), and Aiden Virgadamo. And oh, how she loved her 9 great-grandchildren – Lincoln, Levi, Adeline, Eloise, Arthur, Judah, Charlotte, Piper, and Brodie. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

While our hearts grieve, we rejoice knowing she is now in her new heavenly home. She had told us recently that she didn’t want us to worry about her, that she had some exploring to do. Happy exploring, Mom. We’ll be with you again.

Dean will be buried next to Glenn at the Danville Cemetery in Kilgore TX. Her celebration of life will be held July 14, 2026, at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church in Kilgore (815 E. Main St., Kilgore TX 75662, 903-984-1502), with her son-in-law Pastor Jerry Butcher officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Kilgore. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.