Gladys Holdeman McKenney passed away at her home in Rochester, Michigan, May 17, 2023, in the loving care of her family. Gladys was born in Jackson, Michigan on January 5, 1928. She grew up on her parents’ farm outside Parma, Michigan. She attended a one-room country school located on Sandstone Road for her first eight grades and attended Jackson High School, graduating in 1945.
The daughter of two teachers, Gladys followed in her parents’ footsteps with a career in education. She earned a Bachelor in Psychology at Michigan State University in 1949, then a Master of Education in Guidance and a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum Development at Wayne State University.
She met Bob McKenney through one of the many coincidences or “God winks” in her life, when both were students at Michigan State University. They were married June 10, 1950 at the First Methodist Church in Jackson, Michigan. The couple moved to Beaverton, Michigan, where Bob taught fifth and sixth grades and Gladys filled in for a teacher on maternity leave. Their next move was to Rochester in 1952 where Bob taught sixth grade at Baldwin School. They built their home on Northwood Avenue in 1953 where their children Wayne, Cathleen, Michael, Marcia and Linda were raised. The neighborhood was full of families, and the McKenney children enjoyed daily neighborhood games and visits.
Following the loss of their daughter Cathleen from leukemia at age two in 1955, Bob and Gladys became members of the church that had nurtured them through her illness. They were stalwart members of First Congregational Church of Rochester for the rest of their lives. Bob and Gladys were leaders and enthusiastic participants at summer family camps at Pilgrim Haven at South Haven, Michigan. Gladys was a trained Stephen Minister, and a cheerleader and supporter of many efforts within the church, including the Circle of Prayer. She is remembered as someone who encouraged everyone to see the best in themselves.
Gladys joined the social studies department at Rochester High School in 1965. She designed several classes, including Women’s History, Black History, Adolescent Psychology and Sociology. Although she was never an official guidance counselor, Gladys was a confidant and mentor to many students over the years.
Women’s History was one of Gladys’s many passions. After her retirement from teaching, she created a doll presentation named “Our Fabulous Foremothers,” using the words of American women such as Abigail Adams, Sojourner Truth, Lucretia Mott and Mother Jones to tell the story of women’s suffrage. Her creativity shone through her first set of embroidered cloth dolls, followed by hand-sculpted porcelain dolls clothed by a neighbor who designed and sewed the authentic costumes. During her presentations, she reenacted each of the Foremother’s speeches, including the famous “Ain’t I a Woman” speech by Sojourner Truth. Her dolls are on display at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm.
Gladys was an active force in her community. She was a founding member of the Oakland University branch of the National Organization for Women, a member of the American Association of University Women, and among the founders of the Women’s Fund of Rochester. She was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013, and the Rochester Community Hall of Fame in 2017.
At the time of her death, Gladys was in the process of writing a book, Navigating the C’s of Change. As part of her writing process, she wrote, “Who are you, Gladys? I’m an old soul who still wants to do something meaningful and loving in her life.” And that she did. She is deeply loved and missed by her family.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Florence Holdeman of Parma, Michigan; her daughter, Cathleen Renee McKenney; two brothers, Carl Holdeman, who died in infancy, and Virgil Holdeman of Highland, Illinois; her husband’s parents, Irene and Wilton McKenney of Rochester; and her husband, Robert McKenney.
Gladys is survived by four children and their spouses: Wayne and Susan McKenney; Mike and Becky McKenney; Marcia and LeRoy Schultz; and Linda and Stan Majdan. Gladys was blessed with twelve grandchildren: Krystn McKenney Fellah, Shannon McKenney Shubert, Jillian McKenney VanRiper, Ryan McKenney, Brandon McKenney, Cameron McKenney, Jessica Williams Wallace, Aimee Williams Thackera, Maggie Schultz Boehm, Jake Schultz, Caryn Graham and Carl Graham. In addition, Gladys has 19 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Neighborhood House at 1720 South Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. Funeral arrangements are through Pixley Funeral Home at 322 West University Drive in Rochester. Visitation hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 19. A final viewing at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 20 will precede a celebration of life at First Congregational Church of Rochester, 1315 Pine Street at 10:00 a.m., followed by a community dinner.
To all her beloved family and friends, and her dog Chortles, Gladys wishes peace and love.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pixleyfh.com for the McKenney family.
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