Gladys was a secretary for an insurance agent for over 20 years. The insurance office was on the corner of West Main Street across from the county courthouse. Instead of mailing their insurance premiums, it seemed that everyone in town came to the office to make their payments. Most of the time, customers waited patiently on the sidewalk for the office to open each morning. Many were farmers who were early risers and wanted to get their business completed and get back to their farms. The office was always a hub of activity. Since she worked at the office for many years, Gladys knew almost every customer by name. She embraced those who came in the office with a heavy heart by being a good listener. Her outgoing personality, positive attitude, and friendly smile were always welcoming. It was plain to see that she thrived working in the public eye and enjoyed her profession.
Gladys arrived each morning at 9 o’clock to open the office. Making her way hurriedly to her desk via the back entrance, she would flick on the lights, make her way to the front door where the “Closed” sign was changed to “Open” and unlock the door. The paperwork was always neatly organized on her desk and seemed to grow into a mountain by the time the noon hour arrived. Her second husband was a retired farmer who would drive into town each day and visit his “courthouse buddies” before taking her to lunch at the local diner when the fire station sounded the “noon whistle”. The diner, a short walk around the corner and down the street, had the best cheeseburger platter in the state. The cheeseburger was a quarter pound of beef served with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickle, onion, and your choice of mayo or mustard on a toasted bun. The platter was served with a side of creamy cole slaw and hot, crisp crinkle cut french fries. All of this was washed down with a fountain Coca Cola served in a glass with crushed ice. The diner had a concrete floor and was always packed full of people at the counter and the tables. The food came out of the kitchen fast, steaming hot, and delicious every time. The waitresses and kitchen staff provided excellent service despite the packed house and everyone always seemed satisfied with their visit.
Gladys returned to the office precisely at 1:00 o’clock and spent the afternoon working her way through the heap of paperwork, answering calls, and greeting customers. At 3:00 o’clock, she placed a “Return in 10 Minutes” sign on the door and slipped out the back door. The back lot was a square of back doors to the law offices next door, the Five and Dime, the local café, and the small grocery store, which also had concrete floors. She would enter the back door of the grocery and would head straight to the large, red steel cooler that opened from the top. She opened the cooler top to find frosty, ice cold Coca Cola in eight-ounce bottles. As Gladys headed towards the front of the store to pay for her Coke, she couldn’t resist the temptation of a small bag of Fritos Corn Chips. She was addicted to them and decided to embrace the addiction instead of fighting it each day. Gladys would return to the office and slip the chips in her right hand desk drawer. She would sneak nibbles of the chips throughout the afternoon. Around 4:50 pm, she would begin the task of getting her desk clear and her work ready for the next day. She locked the door promptly at 5:00 o’clock and would switch the “Open” sign to “Closed” and would exit through the back flipping the lights off as she went.
Her life had many celebrations and much heartbreak as well. She married when she was quite young and had six children – four boys and two girls. The 1960’s were a turning point in many lives, but especially for her. In 1962, her husband died at age 42 of heart disease leaving her with two sons in the Army and four children still at home. Gladys remarried in 1970. She married the retired farmer that was mentioned earlier in this story. He was a good man and she needed a friend and companion. The boys returned from their military service safely without injury.
Divorce, death, and disease seemed to plague the family in the early 1980’s. The black cloud just seemed to hover for a long time, but behind every black cloud, there is always a silver lining. Gladys had a multitude of grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were great gifts in her life and she made each of them feel special. It didn’t matter how many miles separated them, they were close to her always and held her heart.
After 25 years at the insurance agency, it was time for Gladys to retire. The world had entered the computer realm and the insurance agency had hired a new face to help out. The working environment was headed towards a faster pace and it was losing its appeal. Gladys was not one to be idle and she decided that she must search for her next purpose.
Her next purpose came in search of her. It seems that her youngest son found out in January of 1988 that he was going to be a father. He couldn’t quite fathom putting his child in daycare and very much wanted Gladys to move close to him and take care of his firstborn. It was an answer to a prayer. Funny how that works out, isn’t it?
Gladys moved out of the house she had lived in for well over 30 years. It was a big change because there were a lot of memories attached, but it was time to move on to a new adventure. It was a time of celebration and time for a change. She moved to the city and found an apartment three streets over from Jon and his new family. The city life was good for her and she seemed to thrive with this change.
She took care of baby Jessie and it was obvious this child was the love of her life. They spent a lot of time together. When Jessie was four years old, Jon had a massive heart attack and almost died. It was touch and go with Jon and the family was called to the hospital because they feared his imminent death -- they even allowed Jessie to visit in ICU. After 72 hours, the doctors finally got Jon stabilized. Gladys seemed to age overnight. She couldn’t lose another child – it would have killed her soul.
The family continued to have a few more rough patches. Gladys had a heart attack herself a few years afterwards and had open-heart surgery. Gladys recovered after her surgery, but time was passing by and she was getting older. It seemed to take a little longer to recover this time. She had two more celebrations – her 80th birthday and the wedding of her oldest living granddaughter, Sandra. The marriage was considered an elopement, but Gladys ventured down to see them come out of the city courthouse after the ceremony. Three months after the wedding, Gladys was diagnosed with cancer.
The next nine months were filled with hospital visits, treatments, the dreaded nursing home, and finally hospice care. During that time, the family visited with her often. They shared memories and even moments of reconciliation for the past. Her children and grandchildren were with her as she took her last breath. She made her return to the little town and was laid to rest three miles off West Main Street.
She’s sorely missed by her family, but she left so many gifts for us to remember her. Her love of laughter, her willingness to help others, and her kind, caring manner lives in all of her children and grandchildren. The memories live on and there are still tears shed from time to time when we think of her. We have what are called “Neenie Stories”, which relay her sweet, loving stories of her life. She may have been laid to rest three miles off West Main Street, but she’ll always live in my heart.
Gladys arrived each morning at 9 o’clock to open the office. Making her way hurriedly to her desk via the back entrance, she would flick on the lights, make her way to the front door where the “Closed” sign was changed to “Open” and unlock the door. The paperwork was always neatly organized on her desk and seemed to grow into a mountain by the time the noon hour arrived. Her second husband was a retired farmer who would drive into town each day and visit his “courthouse buddies” before taking her to lunch at the local diner when the fire station sounded the “noon whistle”. The diner, a short walk around the corner and down the street, had the best cheeseburger platter in the state. The cheeseburger was a quarter pound of beef served with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickle, onion, and your choice of mayo or mustard on a toasted bun. The platter was served with a side of creamy cole slaw and hot, crisp crinkle cut french fries. All of this was washed down with a fountain Coca Cola served in a glass with crushed ice. The diner had a concrete floor and was always packed full of people at the counter and the tables. The food came out of the kitchen fast, steaming hot, and delicious every time. The waitresses and kitchen staff provided excellent service despite the packed house and everyone always seemed satisfied with their visit.
Gladys returned to the office precisely at 1:00 o’clock and spent the afternoon working her way through the heap of paperwork, answering calls, and greeting customers. At 3:00 o’clock, she placed a “Return in 10 Minutes” sign on the door and slipped out the back door. The back lot was a square of back doors to the law offices next door, the Five and Dime, the local café, and the small grocery store, which also had concrete floors. She would enter the back door of the grocery and would head straight to the large, red steel cooler that opened from the top. She opened the cooler top to find frosty, ice cold Coca Cola in eight-ounce bottles. As Gladys headed towards the front of the store to pay for her Coke, she couldn’t resist the temptation of a small bag of Fritos Corn Chips. She was addicted to them and decided to embrace the addiction instead of fighting it each day. Gladys would return to the office and slip the chips in her right hand desk drawer. She would sneak nibbles of the chips throughout the afternoon. Around 4:50 pm, she would begin the task of getting her desk clear and her work ready for the next day. She locked the door promptly at 5:00 o’clock and would switch the “Open” sign to “Closed” and would exit through the back flipping the lights off as she went.
Her life had many celebrations and much heartbreak as well. She married when she was quite young and had six children – four boys and two girls. The 1960’s were a turning point in many lives, but especially for her. In 1962, her husband died at age 42 of heart disease leaving her with two sons in the Army and four children still at home. Gladys remarried in 1970. She married the retired farmer that was mentioned earlier in this story. He was a good man and she needed a friend and companion. The boys returned from their military service safely without injury.
Divorce, death, and disease seemed to plague the family in the early 1980’s. The black cloud just seemed to hover for a long time, but behind every black cloud, there is always a silver lining. Gladys had a multitude of grandchildren and great grandchildren. They were great gifts in her life and she made each of them feel special. It didn’t matter how many miles separated them, they were close to her always and held her heart.
After 25 years at the insurance agency, it was time for Gladys to retire. The world had entered the computer realm and the insurance agency had hired a new face to help out. The working environment was headed towards a faster pace and it was losing its appeal. Gladys was not one to be idle and she decided that she must search for her next purpose.
Her next purpose came in search of her. It seems that her youngest son found out in January of 1988 that he was going to be a father. He couldn’t quite fathom putting his child in daycare and very much wanted Gladys to move close to him and take care of his firstborn. It was an answer to a prayer. Funny how that works out, isn’t it?
Gladys moved out of the house she had lived in for well over 30 years. It was a big change because there were a lot of memories attached, but it was time to move on to a new adventure. It was a time of celebration and time for a change. She moved to the city and found an apartment three streets over from Jon and his new family. The city life was good for her and she seemed to thrive with this change.
She took care of baby Jessie and it was obvious this child was the love of her life. They spent a lot of time together. When Jessie was four years old, Jon had a massive heart attack and almost died. It was touch and go with Jon and the family was called to the hospital because they feared his imminent death -- they even allowed Jessie to visit in ICU. After 72 hours, the doctors finally got Jon stabilized. Gladys seemed to age overnight. She couldn’t lose another child – it would have killed her soul.
The family continued to have a few more rough patches. Gladys had a heart attack herself a few years afterwards and had open-heart surgery. Gladys recovered after her surgery, but time was passing by and she was getting older. It seemed to take a little longer to recover this time. She had two more celebrations – her 80th birthday and the wedding of her oldest living granddaughter, Sandra. The marriage was considered an elopement, but Gladys ventured down to see them come out of the city courthouse after the ceremony. Three months after the wedding, Gladys was diagnosed with cancer.
The next nine months were filled with hospital visits, treatments, the dreaded nursing home, and finally hospice care. During that time, the family visited with her often. They shared memories and even moments of reconciliation for the past. Her children and grandchildren were with her as she took her last breath. She made her return to the little town and was laid to rest three miles off West Main Street.
She’s sorely missed by her family, but she left so many gifts for us to remember her. Her love of laughter, her willingness to help others, and her kind, caring manner lives in all of her children and grandchildren. The memories live on and there are still tears shed from time to time when we think of her. We have what are called “Neenie Stories”, which relay her sweet, loving stories of her life. She may have been laid to rest three miles off West Main Street, but she’ll always live in my heart.
Comments
mom alway had a smile! she is the strongest woman i have ever known, and she had a spirituality that served her well. love, jon