Gaye Lynn Krueger, age 67, of Kerrville, peacefully passed from this life into the arms of her Savior on Thursday, December 7, 2023, after bravely battling dementia for several years. Gaye was born October 5, 1956, in Seguin, Texas, to Donald and Thelma Koehler. She grew up in the Seguin/Geronimo area of Guadalupe County with two younger brothers, Quinn and Kerry, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins on both the Koehler and Matthys (Mom's) sides of the family. She spent her entire elementary, middle, and high school years in the Navarro ISD, where she participated in band and was recruited into sports to help fill team rosters in the small school system (although she'd even admit that she wasn't a natural-born athlete!), graduating in May 1975 as the class valedictorian.

However, Gaye was a natural-born educator. She earned a bachelor's degree in Education from Southwest Texas State in May 1979 and began her teaching career shortly thereafter in the Floresville, Texas ISD. She met her future husband Mike in Seguin in early 1981 after being ''set-up'' by one of her best friends, Donna, and his cousin Gerald. She moved to Lufkin, Texas during the summer of 1981, where Mike lived at the time (with a mutual understanding that there were no guarantees that things would work out between them!). Well, things did work out, and Gaye and Mike Krueger were married at the Friedens Church in Geronimo on July 9, 1983. Their first home was a small rented house at the end of an unpaved red clay road in the middle of the East Texas woods - that was paradise for the young couple (at least it was for Mike), although he had to pull her Malibu out of the mud several times during the rainy season. Their union produced two sons, Adam and Evan, and one daughter, Kayla, who were all born in Lufkin. During the ''Lufkin years'' Gaye taught 6-12th grade English for 11 years in the small, piney-woods, Apple Springs ISD across the county line in Trinity County. In addition to the daily commute to Apple Springs, she raised and cared-for three small children, and kept their now ''city place'' household running smoothly, while Mike was pursuing his career.

In August 1992 the young family moved to Lampasas, Texas for Mike's job, which put them several hours closer to both of their Guadalupe County families. Gaye taught ''English As A Second Language'' on all four campuses of the Lampasas ISD (primary through high school), although she didn't know a word (nor did she need to) of any language other than English. Being close to the Fort Hood military base, she had students from all over the world that spoke a wide array of non-English languages. During their school years Gaye was the chief supporter of, and chauffer for, all of the kids' school, sports, and extracurricular activities, in addition to her primary love of being a loving and nurturing mother and wife. She taught in Lampasas until 2008, when Mike again uprooted her to Kerrville after the last kid had graduated from Lampasas high school. After serving as a substitute teacher in the Kerrville ISD for a couple of years, Gaye retired from her 31-year teaching career in May 2010.

A life-long member of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), Gaye was always active in the LCMS churches in all of the places where the family resided. But retirement allowed her to put her church volunteer work into high gear, especially with the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML). She was active in every local LWML group since she was an adult, serving as a member and officer of local groups. From 2010 until 2020 she was a Texas statewide officer, taking most pride and satisfaction as Vice President of Human Care from 2016 to 2020. She attended numerous district and national LWML conventions and could often be found in the mission service or servant events areas. She can best be described as a servant of Jesus, always serving with a smile and joy.

Gaye was predeceased by her parents; grandparents, Marie and George Matthys and Anita and Herbert Koehler; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Survivors left to cherish their memories of her include her husband of 40 years, Mike of Kerrville; son, Adam Krueger and wife Jana and their children Pence and Kinsler of Dripping Springs; son, Evan Krueger and wife Katie and their children Jack and Emily of Katy; and daughter, Kayla Krueger and partner Lucas Skinner of Johnson City. Also surviving are her brother Quinn Koehler and wife Dawn of New Braunfels; brother, Kerry Koehler and wife Mary of Seguin; and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. She also leaves behind a bevy of friends in all the places she lived throughout her life.

The family will remember Gaye for her baking skills (especially chocolate chip cookies, Mike's favorite), her love for potted plants of all varieties and number that necessitated the building of greenhouses wherever they lived, and the mad rush to protect the plants when the first freeze of the year was forecast, and her extensive collection of indoor and outdoor decorations for every holiday of the year, major and minor.

The family wishes to extend their appreciation to Doctors Garred and Weber of Kerrville for the medical care they provided to Gaye. Much appreciation is also extended to Caring Senior Service of Kerrville, Poet's Walk-San Antonio Memory Care Community, and Abundant Hospice of San Antonio for the care, compassion, and comfort they provided to her during her last months.

A private family committal service will be conducted by Pastor Roy Dahmann (retired) on December 22 at the multi-generational Geronimo Creek family property, Guadalupe County, where Gaye spent many pleasant hours with family and friends since her youth. A celebration of life service for Gaye will be at the Hosanna Lutheran Church, 134 Camp Meeting Road in Kerrville, on Saturday, January 20, 2024. Visitation with family will begin at 10:00 AM, followed by the service at 11:00 AM, officiated by Pastor Dan Mueller. A reception will follow.

Memorials to any of the LWML Texas District Endowments would please Gaye and her family, as would a donation to a charity of your choice. Information on the LWML endowments can be found at https://www.lwmltxdist.org/endowments-gifting-options

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