Gladys Noe Douglas

After a long and full life, Gladys Douglas departed for a better place on Wednesday May 15, 2013. The youngest of eight children born to Lonnie and Emma Teasdale Noe, she has joined all her brothers and sisters, her son Jack Bush, her husband Marvin Douglas, and her great-grandson, Dylan Ross, and a host of friends.

Gladys was born in Rio Hondo, Texas, in 1920, and moved to Austin with her family at the age of 13 after a great hurricane hit the Rio Grande Valley and destroyed the family home. She attended University Junior High School, Austin High School, and graduated from Manor High School. She has lived in the Austin and Pflugerville areas most of her adult life where she worked for Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator during WWII, and as a clerk at both the Adjutant General’s Office and the Comptroller’s Department. She retired in 1982 after a long career working for the State of Texas.

One of her great joys was watching movies, especially old musicals, where she joined in the singing with her beautiful alto voice. In her younger days, she was quite a graceful dancer. With a legendary sense of humor, she could be seen many a night at Hi Ho Inn on North Lamar near Coxville Zoo—either regaling her friends with the latest jokes or taking a turn around the dance floor with good friends. Lively family gatherings were particularly enjoyable for her, and she was surrounded by family this past Easter at the home of her daughter and son-in-law.

Leading the way to the afterlife were her parents, Lonnie and Emma Noe; son, Jack Bush; husband, Marvin Douglas; sisters, Lorene Thornton, Merle Jacobs, and Louise Kitchens; brothers Bob Noe, Max Noe, and Arthur “Poddy” Noe; and great-grandson, Dylan Ross. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Bunny and Jim Oliver; grandchildren Dana and Derek Ross, Bruce Holmstrom and Peg Maupin, Marla & James Stacey, Riley Bush, Greg Bush, Jim & Lynn Oliver, Dave & Debbie Oliver, and Kathy & Tom Mitchell. Also surviving are great-grandchildren Amanda Jackson, Maggie Ross Young, Spencer Jackson, Kayley Bush, Emily Mitchell, Danielle Oliver, Kayla Oliver, James Parker Oliver IV, Jaxon Oliver, and Jordan Oliver. Daughter-in-law Barbara Bush and her husband Nick Siemens also survive.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers at Amber’s Place—Anisa Peralta, Rosanne Fiero, Eva Luna, Kristie Martinez, and Celeste Crites for their loving care during the last three years.

Pall Bearers are Bruce Holmstrom, Riley Bush, Greg Bush, Derek Ross, James Stacey, Jim Oliver III, Dave Oliver and Nick Siemens

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from one o’clock until two o’clock in the afternoon, on Saturday, the 18th of May 2013, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

Funeral services will follow at two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Cook-Walden Capital Parks, 14501 N IH-35, Pflugerville, Texas

Memorials may be given to Lupus Foundation of America, 2000 L Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20036, or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.