Gertrude (Trudy) Herrin McCuller departed this earth with the angels on March 4, 2017. She was survived by her son, Daniel Culpepper McCuller and his wife Renee’, daughter, Nova May McCuller, grandsons, Patrick Daniel McCuller, his wife Lisanne McCuller, Luke Hankins and his wife Miriam, and David Hankins; and 4 great grandchildren Oliver and Bettye Frances and Eli and Evelyn. Trudy McCuller was preceded by her husband, Frank H. McCuller. She was the beloved daughter of Nova Baker.
Services will be held at Hill Crest Funeral Home, (601 US-80, Haughton, LA 71037, Phone 318 949-9415) Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Viewing will be Monday, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park.
Trudy’s 94 years began in Alexandria, Louisiana on November 28, 1922. Moving later to McDade, Louisiana. She graduated third in her class of 3 from Elm Grove High School. Trudy started college at 16 years of age from Normal College, which is now Northwestern State University. Her first teaching job was in a one-room school house teaching 10 students of varying ages in Oak Grove, Louisiana. When her mother faced a flood, she moved to Bossier City, Louisiana and obtained a position as a first grade teacher at Bossier Elementary School. She later taught at Waller Elementary, then later moved on to teach at Kerr Elementary. Trudy McCuller taught first grade, then taught fourth grade for many years and finished her career teaching first again.
One of her loves of teaching was due to her beloved sisters of Kappa Kappa Iota (KKI), which in she rose to the rank of State President. Trudy remained an active member as long as her 94 years permitted, and never stopped loving her sisters.
Besides her love for teaching and KKI, Trudy had a great love and devotion for her church. The first seat on the inner aisle of the third row would find her faithfully sitting and smiling on Sundays as she would visit with her church family. On Thursdays for many years she participated in passing out food with Helping Hands and for many years she taught children in Sunday School. A high school dance found her dancing the “funky chicken,” with the pastor commenting in church on Sunday.
Trudy did not live her life, she celebrated it. She loved the people around her, she loved to travel, she loved to eat out, she adored animals, and she loved flower gardens. She now sings with the Angels as she sang around the house when she was happy or in church on Sunday morning. She was smiling through the day and passed quietly in her sleep without pain. We will miss her.
Honoring Trudy as pallbearers will be Frank H. McCuller, Dr. Hewitt McCuller, Dr. Pope Oden, David Hankins, Luke Hankins, Rusty Shoemake, and Charles Leach.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the staff at Colonial Oaks Nursing Home for their wonderful care given to Trudy while she was there.
