Gertrude Adel Desgouttes

Gertrude Adel DesGouttes, age 88, of Fayetteville, aka, Miss G, Gerts, or Gertie, passed away peacefully at home on Friday morning, July 7, 2017. She was born on June 18, 1929, in Westmoreland, Jamaica, to Marty and Louise Reynolds. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ignatius and her son, Alexis DesGouttes; her sister, Rose Reynolds; and her four brothers, Zachariah, Reginald, Percival, and Stanley Reynolds. Gertrude lived the first half of her life in Jamaica. There she married and with her husband, raised her three children, and took care of other family members and anyone else who needed her help. She also had a successful retail career working for FW Woolworth & Co., from where she retired after 27+ years of service. When her husband Ignatius died, she made the decision to move to the US. With her youngest daughter Karen they joined her oldest daughter Constance (Connie) and her husband in North Miami Beach, FL. Once settled in her new home, she started the next phase of her life. She studied and became a licensed CNA and worked until her second retirement at age 65. After retirement, she began traveling with her youngest daughter Karen, and they both went wherever Karen's job took them. Their first stop was California. They lived in Camarillo for nearly six years where Gertrude became a very active member of Padre Sierra Catholic Church. She left many great and dear friends behind and they were all sad to see her go. The next and final stop was Fayetteville, Ark., nearly fourteen years ago. She became a member of St Joseph Catholic Church, and although not as active as she would like to be, due to declining health, she was still known and loved. As she travelled, Gertrude made many dear friends. No one she met ever remained a stranger. She treated everyone with kindness, compassion and respect and made a lasting impression wherever she went and with anyone she met. She lived a spiritual and remarkable life and has now ascended into the hands of the Lord where she will be forever watching and praying over all her family and friends. She is survived by two daughters, Connie Khaleel and husband Tyrone of Plantation, Fla., and Karen DesGouttes of Fayetteville, Ark.; one brother, Uten Reynolds of Kingston, Jamaica; four grandchildren, Julie Urbaez and husband Kiko (Florida), Giselle Walton and husband Jason (Florida), Kathy-Ann Desgouttes (Florida), and Tad Desgouttes (Georgia); eight great-grandchildren, Rolando Rosa, Sierra and Isabella Urbaez, Raquel, Blake, and Brooke Walton, and Dean and Laithen Nevins; two great-great-grandchildren, Dylan and Olivia Rosa; her two loving, rambunctious dogs, Max and Jill; and many extended family members in Jamaica and across the US. A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 15th 2017, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1722 N. Starr Drive, Fayetteville, Ark. 72701. To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home and Crematory of Fayetteville.