Marie-Cecile “Seal” Gehrdes, 86, passed away in Huntsville, AL on Wednesday. Seal was born in Washington D.C. to Marcel and Marion Thompson. In 1951, Seal joined the United States Marine Corps as a recruiter of six years and obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant until being honorably discharged in 1958. She married Robert P. Gehrdes on October 28, 1960, and after living in many locations around the United States, they settled in Huntsville, AL, in 1972. On May 1, 1981 Seal graduated from The University of Alabama Huntsville with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance. She was an accomplished musician who spent many years playing the organ for Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Post and Bicentennial Chapel on Redstone Arsenal, and hundreds of local weddings. Her hobbies included needle work, reading, and traveling. Seal was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, and friend.
Survivors include children, Mary Gehrdes of Jacksonville, FL, Peter Gehrdes and wife, Sherri, of Pensacola, FL, Robert Paul Gehrdes, Jr., and wife, Stephanie, of Cary, NC, Marion Little and husband, Michael, of Mission Viejo, CA, Marie O’Neil, Charles Gehrdes and wife, Kimberly, of Huntsville, AL, Joseph Gehrdes and wife, Brandi, of Huntsville, AL; grandchildren, Daryl Gottlieb, Jan Brent Gottlieb, Jonathan Gehrdes, Bethany Gehrdes, Linda Gehrdes, Robert Gehrdes III, Amanda Bailey, Sean Little, Courtney Valentine, Casey Valentine, Chuck Gehrdes, Nick Gehrdes, Jack Gehrdes, Mark Gehrdes, Harris Gehrdes, Henry Gehrdes, and Adam Gehrdes; great-grandchildren, Caden and Carter Little, and Quincy Gotlieb; brother, Jack Caussin; and sisters, Anne “Bunny”, Germaine, Judy and Jeanne; and numerous nieces and nephews, in-laws and outlaws.
Visitation with the family will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 1st at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. The funeral will follow at the church with Father Tim Pfander officiating. A luncheon will follow the service at the church
