Geraldine Shirley Back

Geraldine Shirley Back, born July 12, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan, to Martin Leih and Crystal O'Connor, passed away on July 15, 2026, in Turner, Oregon.

Geraldine grew up with a steady commitment to learning and completed her degree in Home Economics at Northwest Nazarene College in 1954. Later that year, on August 31, she married Leonard Edward Back in Monrovia, California. Together they raised three children and built a life centered on family, education, and church.

Geraldine spent her years as both a homemaker and a teacher. She taught at Stayton Middle School, Stayton Elementary, Sublimity Elementary, North Santiam School, and was the director for the Salem Nazarene Dayschool. She valued education and a relationship with Jesus.

Geri loved to read and be with her family. She loved donating her time and her home for a variety of church activities, and for Northwest Nazarene University events. She also loved anything to do with frogs, including her favorite pastime of painting ceramic and metal frogs. The acronym for frog, Fully Rely On God, exhibited her lifestyle and choices.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leonard in March of 2026, her son Leslie Back in 2022, her brother Carl, and her sister Helen. Geri is survived by her daughters Trycia (Tom) Smith and Kelly (Dale) Beeson, and by her grandchildren Josh Smith, Courtney Thompson, Krystal Robinson, Lindsay Riggs, Taylor Back, Connor Back, Morris Back, Spencer Beeson, and McKenzie Tschiegg. She is also survived by her sister Virginia Klassen.

Geraldine will be remembered for her commitment to her family, her spunkiness, and her relationship with God.