Gladys Elizabeth Erxleben, nee Edwards passed away July 28, 2016, at the age of 93 years.
She was born in St. James, MO on April 22, 1923, to Thomas Wallace Edwards and Lillian Mae Cooper Edwards. Her family moved to the Sullivan area where she was raised. She lived most of her life in Sullivan and the surrounding area. On November 8, 1942, she was united in marriage to Clyde Alvin Erxleben in Old Monroe, MO and to this union three children were born, Gloria Jean, Steven Edward, and Clyde Douglas.
When Gladys’ husband joined the Armed Forces in 1943, she followed him to North Carolina and lived in a small apartment with friends. During this time, Gladys recorded in a notebook where and for what she spent every penny. She kept this notebook all of her life and shared it with her children and grandchildren and others when she and Clyde celebrated their 50th, 60th, and 70th Wedding Anniversary.
When her children attended Sullivan Public Schools, Gladys worked as a cafeteria cook. Her children knew they couldn’t get away with anything, because their mom was right there at school with them.
Her hobbies included sewing, ceramics, quilting, crocheting, cooking and baking, and cake decorating.
Gladys was an active member of Temple Baptist Church and while able, she helped with Summer Bible School for over 40 years.
She was a very loving mother, mother in law, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved to have parties for the grandchildren for almost every occasion. Her grandchildren loved to have a “sleep-over” at Grandma’s house, because she would let the girls come and stay over or all the boys come and stay over. For many years, she prepared Sunday dinner and had all of her family come to eat. She was a very accomplished cook and baker. Every Christmas she made cookies for her family and cookies were made and taken to the nursing homes and to the home bound, who were unable to bake their own.
Gladys will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her husband of 73 years, Clyde Erxleben of Sullivan, one daughter; Gloria Stack and husband Glenn of Sullivan, two sons; Steven Erxleben and wife Maggie and Doug (Clyde) Erxleben and wife Teresa all of Sullivan, three sisters; Lillian Davis, Florence Thurman and Mary Monda and husband Buel, nine grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, brothers; Wallace, Harry Clifford and Thomas Edwards and a sister; Ethel Blanton, two grandsons; Gregory Woodrow Stack and Chad August Erxleben.
Visitation was from 9-11 a.m. Monday, August 1, 2016 at Temple Baptist Church in Sullivan, MO.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Temple Baptist Church with Pastor Scott Perry officiating. Cremation will follow with private inurnment.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Challenge to Build Fund at Temple Baptist Church and the Alzheimer’s Association of MO.
All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home.