MaryAnn Zerko

MaryAnn Zerko, 84, of Orange, passed away on January 12, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Chaplain Jeff Bell. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 17, at Claybar Funeral Home.

MaryAnn began her earthly life in Plainville, Indiana, on July 7, 1938. She was the daughter of Frank and Helen Cox. She was a loyal member of Cove Baptist Church in Orange along with serving as a very active Board Member of the Orange City Teachers Club. She moved to Orange around 1967, where she worked for West Orange Cove ISD for over 26 years as custodial supervisor. MaryAnn loved everyone and quickly made friends with anyone she met. She loved to visit and talk on the phone for hours. MaryAnn loved going to her lake house and fishing with her beloved husband, walks on the beach with family and friends, and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoyed fishing when she could as well as gardening and putting together puzzles. MaryAnn was a very loving mother, grandmother and friend to all of her family and will be greatly missed by her whole Baptist church family and her work family.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 38 years, Ira Lee Zerko; parents, Helen Cox and Frank Cox, Jr.; son, Carl Shafer, Jr.; grandson, Richard Paul George III; and granddaughter, Lauren Shafer.

She is survived by her children, James Shafer and wife, Renoria of Bridge City, Margaret George and husband, Ricky of Orange, Walter Shafer of Orange, Sarah McClendon and husband, Dean of Orange, Cindy Lee Zerko of Orange; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; as well as her siblings, Nancy Cox, and Paul Cox.

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris George, David Zerko, Justin Dalrymple, Nicholas Zerko, Mark Zerko, and Christian Shafer. Honorary pallbearers are B.D. Daniel Shafer, Shawn Dillon Shafer, and James Allen Shafer.