Gilbert Ray Meier, of Mineola, passed away on February 28, 2026, in Quitman, Texas at the age of 93. He was born on January 6, 1933, in Eaton, Colorado to Raymond and Helen Meier.

Gilbert spent his early childhood in Wyoming before moving to Wiggins, Colorado as a small child. He grew up there, graduated from Wiggins High School, and it was in Wiggins that he met Patricia Joyce Bernard. The two were married on November 8, 1953, in Greeley, Colorado.

Farming was always a part of Gilbert’s life. He worked the land with dedication, raising sugar beets, corn, and pinto beans. His leadership and dedication to agriculture led him to serve for several years as President of the Colorado Sugarbeet Growers Association in the early 1980’s. While serving as president, he helped design the association’s logo. When Gilbert’s children were young, he also ran a side business repairing televisions in people’s homes. He was exceptionally intelligent and gifted with his hands. Gilbert could fix almost anything, including cars, tractors, and machinery. He was also a private pilot who flew, built, and maintained his own airplanes.

Gilbert’s career history also included driving a school bus. He drove the Wiggins High School bus while he was still a student and enjoyed handing out “Milk Nickles” ice cream on a stick to his passengers on the last day of school. He returned to bus driving again in the early years of his retirement.

Service to his community was important to him. Along with his wife Patricia, he was a member of the Weldona, Colorado Fraternal Order of Odd Fellows. Together they helped organize the annual Turkey Shoot, the Children’s Christmas Party, and countless pancake suppers.

Faith was central to Gilbert’s life. He was a founding member of Wiggins Community Church in Wiggins, Colorado. In 2014, Gilbert and Patricia moved to Aubrey, Texas, where he became an active member of Midway Church in Pilot Point. He loved serving in his churches and was known for his patience with children and his fondness for babies.

He later moved to Mineola in November 2025. Throughout his life he was known for his intelligence, his strong work ethic, and his devotion to his family.

He greets in Heaven his parents, Raymond and Helen Meier; brother, Robert Meier; and sister, Joyce Schroeder.

His legacy lives on through his surviving family members, his devoted wife of over 71 years, Patricia Meier of Mineola; two daughters, Linda Susan Hancock and husband Sammy of Mineola, and Carol J. Nelson and husband Warren of Montague; sister, Sharon Hawthorne of Arizona; brother-in-law, J.D. Bernard; sister-in-law, Jeanette Ducker; six grandchildren, Lisa, Christopher, Tyler, Heather, Bryce, and Adam; 12 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild, and many extended family members and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30PM on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at Midway Church in Pilot Point, Texas.

A celebration of life in Colorado is planned for a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to Wiggins Community Church, as Gilbert would have preferred supporting the church he helped build and loved so dearly: https://app.fluidpay.com/spp/Donate-Now