Geraldine Paula Swatloski Blanton (Geri) was born on March 30, 1931, to Helen Caskey and Edmund Swatloski in Houston, Texas and grew up in the Heights. She attended Christ the King Catholic School and John H. Reagan High School, graduating in 1948. She was a member of the Reagan Red Coats Drum and Bugle Corps, where she made lifelong friends. She attended the final reunion of the Drum and Bugle Corps in April of this year.
Geri married John Blanton in 1955, and together they had two children, Lisa and Michael. Geri and John spend 12 years in the restaurant business. After John’s death in 1984, Geri worked in various capacities including outside sales and administrative positions. She also began traveling with a group of wonderful friends to places like Nassau, Vancouver and Mexico City. She eventually retired from ABB Vetco Gray in the 1990’s and pursued a passion she never had time for previously, quilting. She created many beautiful works of art, much to the amazement of her family and friends.
In the 1990’s, she met James Palmer. They spent 15 wonderful years together, developing a passion for growing daylilies and traveling to various states to attend daylily festivals until his death in 2005.
Also in 2005, Geri welcomed her only grandchild, McKenna Paige, daughter of Lisa and her husband, Dan. McKenna made Geri a “GiGi”, and they were completely devoted to each other.
Geri is preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Ed Swatloski, husband, John Blanton, and loving companion, James Palmer. She is survived by her children, Mike and Lisa and her husband, Dan, and granddaughter, McKenna.
Visitation will be held at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077, US, on May 16, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, followed by the Funeral Service at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. A Committal Service will take place at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077, US, on May 16, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm.
Active pallbearers will be Margaret Barker, John Bolmanski, Ali Ibrahim, Robert Parker, Billy Palmer, and Dan Petit, with Michael Blanton serving as an honorary pallbearer.
