Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Mary Joyce "Joy" Tippett Gerkens, 50, of Chapel Hill, N.C., and previously of Hawaii and Maryland, died suddenly Feb. 20 in her home. 


Mrs. Gerkens was born Aug. 31, 1957 in Washington, D.C., to Joe and Jean Tippett of Edgewater. She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 


She worked as a teacher in the Fairfax County, Va., school system. 


She was a member of St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church in Chapel Hill. 


She enjoyed swimming, travel, beaches, especially Hawaii, raising her family and teaching. 


Survivors include her husband, Fred Gerkens; one son, Kevin Gerkens of Chapel Hill; two daughters, Tina Jones of Chapel Hill and Jeanne McCray of Laurel; two brothers, Jay Tippett of Sterling, Va., and Jerry Tippett of Laurel; two sisters, Jody Franklin of Columbia and Janice Tippett of Edgewater; and one granddaughter. 


Family and friends may join in the celebration of her life at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater. Funeral services will follow at 4 p.m. Interment is private.

Mary Gerkens

Mary Gerkens

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