Colleen Edwards Geren, great-granddaughter of one of the area's pioneers, played a role in shaping many neighborhoods from land the family settled more than 160 years ago along the Trinity River.
In 1954, Mrs. Geren and her brother, Cass O. Edwards II, who died in 2005, formed Cassco Land Co. to take some of the family's holdings, which until that point had housed busy cattle operations, and began selling off parcels to commercial users and developers. It was then that the city's growth pushed closer to their legendary ranch.The land became the neighborhoods of Tanglewood, Overton Park, Overton Crest and Overton Woods. Ranch land was also sold for the development of Hulen Mall and Trinity Commons shopping centers.Mrs. Geren died Sept. 13. She was 84. Her service was Monday at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.Mrs. Geren was born Aug. 12, 1928, to Winnie Smyth and Crawford Overton Edwards. She was the granddaughter of Casswell Overton Edwards and the great-granddaughter of Lemuel Edwards.Lemuel Edwards used a Texas land grant to acquire the land in 1848, and at one time the family owned about 4,000 acres, roughly from Vickery Boulevard to south of Interstate 20 and between Bryant Irvin Road and South Hulen Street. About 850 acres remain for development.Mrs. Geren's nephew, Crawford Edwards, who now heads Cassco Land, said one of the first things his aunt and father did when they formed the company was to donate land for Tanglewood Elementary School. He said the two then "slowly and methodically" developed the ranch land where they were raised.Mrs. Geren was not involved in day-to-day duties, but "she clearly was his partner. On major decisions, he would call her," Edwards said. "They had the most mutual respect for each other. It was a great example of a brother and sister who had unfailing trust for each other."State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, said that 30 years ago, his mother survived two surgeries for a brain aneurysm, which limited her physically.Mrs. Geren and her brother received the prestigious Charles Goodnight Ranching Heritage Award on behalf of the Edwards Ranches.Other survivors include her husband, Preston M. Geren Jr.; sons Beauford "Toby" Erwin and Pete Geren; daughters Eva Geren Motheral and Chandra Edwards Geren; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727Twitter: @SandraBakerFWSTHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
