Gladys Olivia Carlson Hirst

Gladys Olivia Carlson Hirst was called home on January 22, 2016. Gladys was 90 years of age when she departed. Gladys was born in Elroy, Texas on September 18, 1925 to David Alex Carlson and Ellen Matilda Jacobson Carlson. Gladys is preceded by her parents, five of her six sisters –Winifred Carlson, Irene Carlson, Naomi Jacobson, Victoria Elliott, and Anna Lee Reneau; her brother, Oliver Carlson; and her husband Norman Fred Hirst.

Gladys grew up in Austin and enrolled in Nixon Clay College where she earned her secretarial degree. In 1952 Gladys met her husband, Norman, while taking dance lessons at Arthur Murray Dance Studio. The couple married in 1953 in Rhode Island and moved to Massachusetts. Gladys worked as the assistant to the head of the Metallurgical Department at M.I.T. where her husband attended school. The couple lived in New England for 11 years and moved back to Austin in 1965. Gladys worked for the Travis County Courthouse until her retirement in 1990.

Gladys is survived by her four children – Kari Lynn Smith, Norman David Hirst, Jeffrey Fred Hirst, and Steven Oliver Hirst, all of Austin; her sister Laverne Morrison, of Michigan, her sister-in-law Mary Elaine Carlson, of Austin, and her sister-in-law Cheryl Hirst Hodgins, of Rhode Island. Gladys is survived by 5 grandchildren -Brian, Amanda, Chelsea, Chris and Kevin, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in laws.

Gladys was a joy to all who knew her. Gladys was a kind, loving, Christian lady who greeted everyone with a smile and a kind word. Her smile would light up a room. Gladys loved to spend time with her family watching the Texas Longhorns play football, playing dominoes, baking desserts, and going out to eat.

Mom, our hearts are absolutely broken as we say goodbye. We thank you for the years of unconditional love and support you have given us. You were a great role model and teacher and we were so blessed to have you as a mother. We will carry you in our hearts always.

Until we meet again,

Kari, David, Jeff and Steven

Gladys will be greatly missed by her family and friends. The family would like to thank St David’s South Austin Hospital and Onion Creek Senior Care for the care they gave Gladys her last few months.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening, on Friday, the 29th of January 2016, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

Funeral services will be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 30th of January 2016, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Interment will follow in Onion Creek Cemetery.

To share condolence with the family, please visit www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com