Gladys Harrel

Gladys Harrel, 96, of Owensboro, died peacefully at the home of her niece on January 30, 2011. Many knew Gladys as the Grand Marshall of the 4th of July Maple Avenue Parade, for generously sharing her homemade pecan pies, and for doing alterations for generations of friends and family.

Gladys was born August 4, 1914 in McLean County to Roscoe and Eliza Bristow Fitts and was married to Edward H. Harrel in 1934. She graduated from Owensboro High School in 1932 and attended Kentucky Wesleyan College. She retired from The General Electric Company and Harrel Photography.

Gladys was a member of Third Baptist Church and also attended First General Baptist Church. She was a member and officer of the Order of Eastern Star (Worthy Grand Matron), Acacia Chapter 46; and a member of Kentucky Colonels, Women's Club and St. John Methodist Church's XYZ Club. Gladys loved playing bunko with her sister-in-law Willie Lee Harrel and friends and looked forward every year to hosting the Christmas carolers from First General Baptist Church. Gladys will be remembered for her interest in others, her sense of humor, and her visits with neighborhood "cookie-eaters."

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Edward H. Harrel; her sister, Emogene Fitts Galloway; brother, Earl Fitts, and niece Bobbie Sublett.

Gladys is survived by her brother, Louis Fitts of Greenwood, IN; her niece, Gay (Steve) Gilmore of Owensboro; her nephew, Edward (Debbie) Galloway of Louisville, and her niece, Betty (Dean) Bouzeous, of Greenwood, IN.

Gladys is also survived by other nieces and nephews: Pam (Allen) Burns of Utica; Natalee (Russell) Ferreri of Louisville; Stephen Gilmore of Portland, Oregon; Scott Gilmore of Louisville; Maggie Galloway of Madison, Wisconsin; Jack Galloway and Mary Galloway of Louisville; and Debbie and Suzy Bouzeous of Greenwood, IN, Penny (Steve) Turner of Georgetown; Leslie (Kevin) Peveler of Utica, Mandy and Ben Burns of Utica, Tiffany (Joe) Gaudio of New York City, Tennille (Matt) Frank of Lexington; Madallyn and Jake Peveler of Utica and Ashley Gaudio of New York City.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 2 at noon in the chapel of Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with burial following in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and after 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to First General Baptist Church or Hospice of Western Kentucky.