Gladys E. Blakeslee

Gladys Elnora Rosalie Youngbloom Blakeslee, 104, of Austin, Texas passed away on Friday, July 28, 2017. She was born on July 31, 1912 in Georgetown, Texas to Carl Wesley Youngbloom and Elnora Anderson Youngbloom. Gladys grew up in Round Rock and was the oldest of nine children. She graduated from Round Rock High School in 1929.

After high school, she went to work at the Bakery at the University of Texas to help support her family during the Depression. Her work as a baker led her to later be employed as the head Baker at Cash and Carry Grocery Store. It is here that she met the love of her life, Joseph Travis Blakeslee. They wed in March of 1942 in Oakland, California as Travis was stationed there before being shipped out during World War II. Gladys and Travis were happily married for 49 years before his passing in March of 1990. They had two children, Joanne Blakeslee Counihan and Duane Travis Blakeslee. During her life Gladys was very involved as a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, The National Guard Auxiliary, Cosmopolitans, Gamma Phi Beta, and the Austin Women’s Club. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Austin’s Catholic Church.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Elnora Youngbloom, by her husband, J. Travis Blakeslee, by her brothers: Edward Youngbloom, Alvin Youngbloom, and Elgene Youngbloom, and by her sisters: Blanche Evelyn Basey, Dorothy Mae Cluck, and Ella Mae Williams.

Gladys is survived by her children: Joanne Counihan, husband Michael of Austin, Texas and Duane Blakeslee, wife Gwen of Jarrell, Texas; by her grandchildren: Melissa Counihan, William and Megan Counihan, Terise and Gil Urias, Ellen and Bryan Letts, Ken and Helen Jensen, Brian and Melanie Jensen, and David Blakeslee; by her great-grandchildren: Catie and Michael Besser, Coleman Counihan, Jimmy Counihan, Joanna Letts, Jesse Letts, Kade Jensen, Harris Jensen, Landon Jensen, and Emmy Kay Jensen; and by her youngest siblings, Vera Belle Steedley and Dan Youngbloom; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Funeral arrangements will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at St. Austin’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow immediately after mass at Assumption Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends and relatives at Cook Walden Funeral Home (6100 North Lamar, Austin, Texas 78752) for Visitation on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. with a Rosary immediately following from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Condolences may be left on Gladys Blakeslee’s online guest book at http://www.dignitymemorial.com/cook-walden-funeral-home/en-us/index.page.