Gladys O. Webster James

She was born July 24, 1920 in Osage Ironworks, Missouri, daughter of Jess and Sue Burke Webster. She married Kenneth E. James on May 25, 1947 in Leeton, MO.

Surviving are her husband of Normal; three children; Mary (Charlie) Cox, Ed (Marcy) James of Normal and Carol (Bill) Jackson of Bloomington; seven grandchildren, Connie (Calvin) James Amen, Chris and Kendra Sebeny, Jessi and Alex James, Mattie and Keith Jackson and one great-grandson, Daniel Amen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; seven brothers, Walter, Eber, Clifford, Floyd, Jay, Don and Kenneth Webster; and three sisters Winnie Warren, Evie Brandt and Ruth Breon.

Mrs. James graduated from William Jewell College and Central Missouri State College with degrees in education. She belonged to Beta Sigma Phi and stayed active for many years. She went on to earn her Masters in Education from the University of Missouri at Columbia. Her teaching career locally included Towanda and Colene Hoose Elementary Schools for twenty years.

She sponsored children’s education through the Christian Children’s Fund for over 30 years and stayed active in many community services. She enjoyed traveling with Kenneth through almost 30 years of retirement.

She will be forever remembered by her family and friends for her strong faith in God, her kind and gentle nature, and her unconditional love.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Bloomington, where funeral services will be held at 11:00a.m. Thursday, April 1, 2010. Visitation will be held at 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Wednesday March 31, 2010 at East Lawn Funeral Home in Bloomington and Entombment will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Bloomington immediately following the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Baptist Women’s Ministries c/o First Baptist Church in Bloomington, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online condolences may be submitted to www.EastLawn-Bloomington.com.