Gladys Graham, 91

Early in the morning of Dec, 18, 2015, Gladys Graham of Kalispell peacefully “left this earth to live on forever in her heavenly homeland.” This loving and godly woman who was such a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend, “is finally seeing the God she loved and served — face to face. She is now reunited with her beloved husband, Marvin and precious daughter, Laura, along with many more of her loved ones who passed before her.”

Gladys was born July 27, 1924, in Anaheim, California, to Albert and Eda Smith. She was the first of three children, followed by her sister, Norma and brother, Ray.

After graduating from high school, Gladys went to work at a munitions manufacturing company in Los Angeles which served to supply the U.S. troops during World War II. It was there she would meet and start dating, Marvin Graham. After a time of separation while Marvin served as a Navy pilot in the European Theater, the two were married on April 4, 1944, just outside the Naval Air Engineering Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey. They soon returned to southern California where they would spend most of their married life.

While Marvin pursued an engineering degree, which lead to a highly successful career, Gladys devoted herself to giving constant and loving attention to Marvin and their four children, David, Linda, Christine and Laura. Gladys truly was the consummate wife and mother. She was an amazing caregiver who worked tirelessly to make sure that the physical and spiritual needs of her family were always being met. Besides the contribution she made at home, Gladys was a steady and faithful servant to her church family, service which was born out of a passionate faith. Her precious old Bible, containing countless names and notes, demonstrates that she was a woman of great spiritual depth, one who daily lived in the dimension of prayer.

After retiring in 1981, Marvin and Gladys moved to Bigfork to be closer to their children and grandchildren who had moved to Montana in the early 1970s. Gladys, like her dear Marvin who passed away in 2000, loved living in the Flathead Valley, and for the rest of her life here she continued to joyfully devote all her energy to serving her God and family.

Countless times, over the years, we would hear her say, “I’ve sure had a wonderful life.” Yes she did have a wonderful life. And, on Dec. 18 — it suddenly got a whole lot better.

Gladys is survived by her son, David Graham and his wife Kathy, daughters, Linda Seymour and her husband Phil, and Christine Daspit and her husband JD; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A family graveside service was conducted at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell on Dec. 22.