Photo No. 2583

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Click Here For the obituary at The Lindley Robertson Holt Funeral Homee site

Rayburn Lee "Butch" Gerke, 76, of Anderson, passed away Monday, April 10, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date. His wishes were for all his family and friends to attend and celebrate the great life he had.

Rayburn was born Sunday, March 30, 1947 in Navasota, Texas to Albin and Dorthula Gerke. He was in the class of 1965 at Navasota High School. He served in the Army for 4 years and then continued his service for 2 years in the National Guard. On August 23, 1969, he married the love of his life, Billie Marie Watson. He worked at Gulf States Utilities for 24 years in Navasota Texas. During this time, he had Gopher Knoll Kennels, in Stoneham, Texas and would train and board dogs for many customers and friends. In 1989, he had the opportunity to pursue one of his dreams and began to travel the United States on the circuit with field trials. He won many Championships throughout this career and met many lifelong friends. In 2019, he was inducted in the Region 7 Hall of Fame for all his accomplishments with field trials. There was no denying his love for dogs and had another great opportunity to guide quail hunting trips in South Texas. In 2002, he created Gerke's Guide Service. South Texas was part of his soul, with him hunting in that area for close to 34 years. During the spring and summer months, he was a fishing guide out of Port O'Connor, Texas. If he wasn't fishing or hunting, he would spend time with his family and friends. In his off time, he would travel near and far to get a trophy animal that is hanging in his man cave. He was the life of the party and always wanted to be surrounded by family and friends. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren. He lived a life that only some dream of and he did it to the fullest.

Rayburn is preceded in death by his parents, Albin and Dorthula Tennyson Gerke.

Survivors include his wife, Billie Marie Gerke; son Rayburn Lee Gerke II and wife, Ashley Gerke of Ricardo, Texas; daughter Rhea Lynn Chandler and husband, Stephen Chandler of Anderson, Texas; son Ryan Louis Gerke and wife, Ann Marie Gerke of Polk City, Iowa; six grandchildren, Taylor Ann Bagley, Beau Ryan Gerke, William Rayburn Bagley, Carlee Jane Gerke, Audree Marie Gerke, and Zachariah Ryan Chandler; his brother, Dennis Gerke of Navasota, Texas; along with other relatives and great number of friends.