Georgia Drozd

Georgia was born on May 16, 1928 to Joseph J. Strmiska and Mary Skrhak Strmiska.  She was baptized and received all her sacraments at S.S. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Granger, Texas.  On January 27, 1948, she married Thomas J. Drozd at S.S. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church.  They had five children, Helen, Geraldine, Monica, Yvonne and Jerome.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one sister – Frances Strmiska Steffek, four brothers - George Strmiska, Frank Strmiska, Jerry Strmiska and Daniel Strmiska.

She is survived by her children, Helen Scott and husband Danny, Geraldine Mertins and husband Charlie, Monica Rose, Yvonne Morris and husband Tim, Jerome Drozd and wife Cyndi; grandchildren Christopher Scott, Christian Scott, Celeste Scott Gray, Crystal Scott Derrick, Shelley Mertins Hale, Mark Mertins, Ronnie Rose, John Rose, Michael Morris, Jennifer Morris Hale, Jackie Morris Montalbo, Ryan Drozd, Austin Drozd, Katelyn Drozd and Thomas Drozd, 19 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson. 

She is also survived by her sister Geraldine Schneider and brother Clement Strmiska and wife Nancy.

As a young girl Georgia worked on her parent’s farm.   She worked at Mikulencik’s in Granger before getting married.  After moving to Temple in 1952, she then worked for JC Penney’s, Sears and Dillard’s for a combined total of over 60 years in retail and worked full time till age 81.

She grew up playing the accordion in her father’s band and continued to play the accordion for her family along with her husband who played the fiddle.  Her favorite hymns to play on the accordion were “Old Rugged Cross” and “Nearer My God to Thee”.

Georgia was a devout Catholic and was deeply committed to her faith and the Catholic Church.  She sent all five children to St. Mary’s Catholic School in Temple, giving them solid groundwork and sacrificing much to lay a foundation for future generations.  She was a strict and loving mother and provided a great example for her children who never doubted that they were the most important things in her life.

“Mommy Drozd” was the name given to her by her first granddaughter Shelley and eventually everyone called her “Mommy Drozd” including non-family members.  She was proud of all her grandchildren’s achievements from the smallest drawing to their graduation and beyond.

She was the strongest woman any of us have ever known and she held our family together in very hard times, setting the standard in our family.

May you rest in peace and shine your light down on us.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, August 17, at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple; a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 18, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Temple.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.