Gladys Ruth (Etter) Tisdale

Gladys Tisdale, a long-time resident of Runaway Bay, passed on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at Baylor Hospital in Grapevine, Texas.

She was born on July 8, 1936, in Edinburgh, Texas, and lost her mom and baby sister a few years later. She lived with various relatives until her Aunt Opal and Uncle Freeman took her in permanently.  During her high school years, she met Charley Tisdale and they were instant sweethearts.  Charley followed her to California and they were married on June 18, 1952, in Bakersfield, California, then returning to Texas.

She had 5 children who were blessed to call her Mother, but she was “mom” to many children other than her own.  Her children’s friends always knew they were welcome and she would make sure everyone was well fed.  She loved to cook for others.  Family holidays were always special because, Gladys went above and beyond in preparing meals.  She’s famous for her pecan pies, her homemade chicken and dumplings and her sand tart cookies.  Her sand tart cookies were once auctioned off for hundreds of dollars.   Anytime one of her family was sick, she would make them chicken and dumplings.   Her children swear that their Mom’s chicken and dumplings would cure anything.

Gladys was very talented and exceptionally creative.  She was a seamstress and made clothing for her children as well as for many others.  She designed and fashioned several of her daughters’ wedding gowns and bridesmaids’ dresses.   She also taught pre-school Montessori,  elementary level Physical Education and enjoyed working with law firms as an independent legal library file service contractor.

Gladys and Charley enjoyed retirement living on the 4th fairway of the golf course in Runaway Bay.  She was a member of the Ladies Golf Association and the Red Hatter’s club there.  Every July 4th, she participated in the golf tournament where she made a hole-in-one on the 13th hole in 2005, and she never let Charley forget the shot that won them a trip to Puerto Rico.

She was dearly loved by so many and will be greatly missed.  But, we rejoice that we will see her again one day in heaven as she loved the Lord.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Charley; her beloved poodle, Sami; her daughters, Charlotte Ruth Tisdale of Madison, Wisconsin, Susan Kay Moore and husband Don of Keller, Texas, Joy Reily and husband Paul of Mesquite, Texas, and Jan-E of Keller, Texas.; her grandchildren Tisha, Drew, Amy, Elly, Keith, Chay,  Nathan and Molly; and her great grandchildren, Hayden, Seth, Sophie, Kaylynn and Kaylee, and Charlee; and numerous extended family members as well as a host of friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Charles Freeman Tisdale, and her brother Russell Etter.

Celebration of Life will be held Monday, July 27th at 2:00pm at Hawkins Funeral Home chapel in Bridgeport.  The family will receive friends 1-2pm at the funeral home.

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