Gladys Darnell

1912 - 2002

Gladys Darnell, 89, died Tuesday, April 2, 2002, at a nursing home in Burleson with her daughter at her side.

Funeral: 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Burleson. Graveside service: 2 p.m. Saturday in the Darnell family plot in Clinton, Okla. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Laurel Land Funeral Home in Burleson.

Memorials: Trinity Mission Nursing Home, 600 Maple Ave., Burleson, Texas 76028, or a charity of choice.

Gladys was a strong Christian, a joyful mother and grandmother, and a loving wife. She was born Aug. 21, 1912, in Oklahoma to "Dollie" McIntyre Real and John Real. She cared for her mother in her own home for 23 years, and for her mother-in-law (Rose Darnell) for eight years, three of these years overlapping when she and her husband welcomed them both into their home. Gladys and Jewel McCarter were married in 1928 and lived some of that time in Enid, Okla. They had four children, and he died in 1944. She then married Eugene Darnell, and they had one child. Gene and Gladys celebrated their golden wedding anniversary before he died in 1995. Mrs. Darnell lived a varied life, with jobs from picking cotton to operating a switchboard; she was a PBX operator at Enid General Hospital for 15 years and at Vance Air Force Base for another 15 years, retiring in 1982. The Darnells lived in Enid, Okla., for most of their married lives until they moved to Burleson in 1992 to be near their daughters.

She was a faithful member of Trinity Baptist Church in Enid for nearly 40 years, moving her membership to First Baptist of Burleson. Gladys had become a favorite at the nursing home, living there since 1994. During her last days, she never failed to smile at a familiar face until she no longer had the strength.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Trinity Mission and Huguley Hospital, as well as Dr. Caivano, for their kindness and attention during her last illness.

Gladys Darnell was preceded in death by her husbands, Jewel McCarter and E. Eugene Darnell; daughters, Nora Mae McCarter and Sue Margaret McCarter Hogan; son, J.D. McCarter; stepson, Burton E. Darnell; grandson, Tim Hogan; five sisters; and two brothers.

Survivors: Daughters, Aletta McCarter (Tom) Morris of Burleson and Carolyn Darnell Koons (Bill) McDonald of Oklahoma City; son-in-law, Don Hogan; grandchildren, Sharon Hogan (Edwin) Granger, Karen Hogan (Phillip) Brown, Don (Monica) Hogan II, Rhonda Hogan (Terry) Sutherland, Linda Schaefer Butt, Carrie Ann Koons, Mary McDonald, Kenny McDonald, Burt Darnell, Christopher Hendrickson and Robert (Sherry) Jones; granddaughter-in-law, Evelyn Hogan; eight great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Clethal Real and Laura Mae Darnell Best; and many dear nieces and nephews.