Gladys M. Konkler

Gladys M. Konkler, 88 of Levering, passed away Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 at Villa on the Bay in Petoskey.
She was born May 5, 1927 in White County, Ill., the daughter of Henry and Beulah (Woolsey) Mills.
In the mid 1940s, Gladys sang on the radio with Art Gupton's Dixie Playboys.  She was "The Little Dixie Sweetheart."  
As a young lady, she worked at her parents' restaurant in Granite City, Ill. until she moved to California where she spent most her adult life.  She worked as a ticket taker at the Aragon Ballroom in Santa Monica, Calif. where they filmed the "Lawrence Welk Show."
She held various other positions from medical record keeping at a care facility, front desk/clerical work at a propane company, to even owning her own restaurant; but she worked at ITT Cannon Electric in Santa Ana, Calif. as a parts inspector for 25 dedicated years. She enjoyed working in her yard, flower gardening, bowling, singing and ballroom dancing.
People were always drawn to Gladys as she was always happy and had an infectious laugh.
She is survived by her three children, Cindy Howard of Levering, Bruce (Terry) Herman of Gaulian Hills, Calif. and Michael (Linda) Herman of Mooreville, Miss.; two sisters, Margaret (Leon) Hale of Carmi, Ill. and Dorothy Phelps of Eugene, Ore.; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her oldest son, Randall Herman; and four siblings.
A graveside service at the Carp Lake Cemetery will be announced in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, 921 W. 11th St., Suite 1W, Traverse City, MI 49684.
Those wishing to leave a condolence or share a memory of Gladys are invited to do so at www.stonefuneralhomeinc.com. Arrangements are being handled by Nordman-Christian Funeral Home.