Gladys Lorraine Thompson

Gladys Lorraine Thompson, of Temple, Texas, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2018. Born June 27, 1924 in McGregor to Henry C. and Willie Mae (Buck) Mertins, she and her family moved to Temple when she was 12 years old. In 1942, she graduated from Temple High School where she played on the tennis team and was a member of Mate Mitchell, the Story Tellers Club, and the Junior Historical Society.It was through tennis that she met the love of her life, Charles Lee Thompson. She and C. L. married shortly after her graduation and moved to Galveston where she worked for W. L. Moody Jr. at Moody National Bank. Some years later they transferred to Taylor and began their family. When Charles launched his own business, they moved to Longview and Gladys focused on their two daughters, assisted C. L. with the business, and belonged to Order of the Eastern Star. They were members of First Baptist Church and later among the initial members of Judson Road Baptist Church.They returned to Temple in 1961 where she continued her active role in her daughters’ upbringing. Once both girls were in college, she worked as office manager with Dave Collier Electric and later Bolsins Electric. She spent much time prior to retirement caring for her Temple grandchildren, visiting her Dallas grandchildren, and serving as the co-director of their “Camp Cousins” each summer. A longtime member of Heights Baptist Church, she volunteered in the church office during her retirement years.Next to being a child of God, she treasured nothing more than being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Grace Garrison, and stepson Charles Edgar Thompson. She is survived by her daughters Joy Weldon of Temple and Sandra (Sandy) Dixon and husband Dick of Temple and stepson Hal Thompson of Ventura, California; grandchildren Lauren Weldon of Kansas City, Missouri, Brett Dixon of Temple, Blake Weldon of Temple, and Matt Dixon of Dallas; step-grandchildren Terry Thompson of Wichita Falls, Mike Thompson of Oxnard, California, and Cyndi Thompson Richardson of Santa Barbara, California; brother Charles Mertins and wife Geraldine; nephews and niece Joel Garrison, Gary Garrison and wife Susie, Shelley Mertins Hale and husband Curtis, and Mark Mertins; great-nephews and niece Austin Garrison and wife Ashley, Emily Garrison Grigsby and husband Will, and Brian Garrison; and her much loved great-great-nephews and niece Ethan, Dylan, Travis, and Reese. She loved them without reservation as they did her.Visitation will be Monday, August 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. The memorial service will be Tuesday, August 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Scanio-Harper and will be preceded by a private family burial.Those desiring to do so may make memorial contributions to Baylor Scott & White – Central Texas Foundation or a favorite charity.