Gladys Emily Nye

Gladys was born in Whitter California in the heart of the Great Depression. Her father Benjamin Stirdivant a farmer in the Yucaipa Valley, had little money as did many at that time. He therefore had to rush to the Yucaipa valley, pick a truck load of peaches, and haul them to Los Angeles to sell. With that money, as his daughter would say, she and her Mother “Ruth” were bailed out of that hospital. That peach orchard was planted years earlier from a 25 cent bag of peach pits, just proving the Lord does provide.

Her family later built a small home on that farm in Yucaipa from a truckload of remnants of the Long Beach earthquake of 1933. Brick, boards and hardware to even model t windshields went into the construction of that little house. Gladys and her family always testified how the Lord provide for each and every need.

Gladys loved the beauty of Yucaipa valley growing up on the peach and produce farm, she learned to love, the Lord. Glady’s with her family would travel to San Bernardino Trinity Lutheran and Later Christ the King for Church in Redlands. Her family being early members and eventually her parents being a Founding Members of Good Shephard in Yucaipa.

Gladys attended Redlands High school but did not start dating the love of her life, William H Nye, until she was at the University of Redlands. The family joke was always she robbed the cradle with Dad. They have been married since 1954 which in itself is an accomplishment.

Gladys received a degree in education and served as a teacher in the Riverside Unified School District for 20 years teaching k-6th. She enjoyed teaching and many of her students to this day stop to say how much the loved her as a teacher and the joy they had in the classroom. It was in Riverside with William that she raised a family of two sons Andrew and Christopher.

Gladys retired in the late eighties to care for her ill father Benjamin. After his death, she developed rheumatoid and osteoarthritis which was quite debilitating at times.

In retirement she enjoyed group events with The Yucaipa Historical Society and the Highland Historical Society with her husband Bill. Bill and Gladys enjoyed road trips and for many years had the reputation of have car will travel. Gladys enjoyed life to its fullest and was forever thankful to the Lord for all that he has provided. Forever at peace even in illness and pain she thanked the Lord.

She will be “Deeply” missed by a loving Husband Bill, two sons Andrew and Chris, daughter in-law Lisa Nye, and four grandchildren Emily Nye, Matthew Nye, Taylor Welch and Michael Welch. She also had a Great granddaughter Penelope Welch and another on the way.