Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Gladys Viola (PURDUM) LEACH was born November 27, 1918 at Guthrie, Oklahoma. She was the second oldest of six children born to Bertha Alice (THOMAS) PURDUM and Aaron Richard PURDUM. Gladys left us on December 4, 2005, at the age of 87 years and seven days.
When Gladys was a young girl her family moved to a farm located near Lenox, where she grew up and attended achool. On October 15, 1938, she was united in marriage to Harry "Pete" Newton LEACH. To this union were born three daughters, Barbara Ann, Mary Ellen and Carol Ann. During the early years of their marriage, she and Pete lived on farms in the Lenox and Clearfield areas. In 1950 they moved to a farm outside of Clearfield. Although Gladys spent most of her life keeping their home, she worked for a period of time at the Clearview Nursing Home.
In 1964 Gladys and Pete moved to Colorado, where Pete pursued a career as a carpenter. They lived in Fort Collins and Walden during their years in Colordao and enjoying living in the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. When they retired in 1979, they moved back to Lenox, where she lived until health problems required her to live at the Clearview Nursing Home.
Gladys is survived by her daughter Mary Ellen SPURRIER of Clearfield; her two grandsons, Cory SPURRIER of Des Moines, Iowa and Clint SPURRIER and his wife Kris of Mount Ayr, Iowa; her four great-grandchildren, Kylie SPURRIER of Santa Ana, California and Jake STEEN, Caleb STEEN and Jazmine SPURRIER, all of Mount Ayr; her two brothers, Clifford PURDUM and his wife Leone of Creston, Iowa and Dale PURDUM and his wife Bertha of Lenox, Iowa; and a host of nieces, nephews and good friends.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, two of her daughters, her sister, Lucille GOLDSMITH and husband, francis, her sister Jean LEWIS and husband Carlton, her brother Raymond and wife Deloris, her son-in-law Richard SPURRIER, her brother-in-law Harvey LEACH and wife Oleta and her sister-in-law Myrtle FORD and husband Leo.
Gladys loved cooking and decorating her home with her own crafts, including painted rocks, decoupage with jewelry, Easter eggs, beaded bells and quilts. Gladys will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Services were held at the Christian Church in Clearfield, Iowa on Tuesday, December 6, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Eydie STEPHENS officiating. Pianist was Becky NELSON and selections were "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace." Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Casketbearers were Dennis PURDUM, Danny PURDUM, Curt PURDUM, Tracy PURDUM, Dean GOLDSMITH, Cyndy JEFFRYES, Debbie CHAPMAN and Joann MOORE.
Gladys was laid to rest at the West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox, Iowa.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2012