Gladys Oliver

Gladys Oliver, 102, died September 16 at Wolfe County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Campton. She was born January 1, 1922, at Flat, KY to Edmond Henry and Lou Edna (Whisman) Oliver. She was a member of St. Helens Christian Church. She attended this church her entire life and taught Sunday School classes for many years. She was a member of Eastern Star, Lee Co. Homemakers, Piecemakers and Kentucky Retired Teachers.
She graduated from St. Helens High School in 1939 and attended Lees Junior College in Jackson and Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College in Richmond. Her first year teaching assignment was Shoemaker School, a one-room school about 4 miles from her home. Her father was postmaster at Fincastle, and they walked together to work each morning from their home on Big Andy Ridge. She said she eventually was so good at navigating the swinging bridge on her way, she could run across it. Her next teaching position was at Pleasant Flat School, where she made life long teacher friends. After one year at Pleasant Flat she applied to teach at St. Helens but was offered a position at Beattyville Grade School. There, she taught 4th grade for a while, then taught 3rd grade for the rest of her career. Gladys taught 34 years before retiring in 1977. Many of her students live in the area and remember her softball games at recess and winding the May Pole each spring. She always enjoyed seeing her former students in town and could often remember something special about each of them and their families.
Being one of ten children and being the caring and capable person Gladys was, she devoted her life to her parents and siblings. She quilted many quilts with her mother and sisters and was very gifted at needlework, especially embroidery. She loved to raise a big garden and work in her flower beds, especially her day lilies. She and her sisters could name each of the day lilies as they walked around their yard. She and her mom loved to take pretty bouquets of daffodils, tulips, dahlias, gladiolas, and roses to church. She read her Bible daily and prayed earnestly for those in need.
Gladys is survived by one sister-in-law, Ruby Oliver in Cincinnati and several nieces and nephews – John Oliver (Sharon) of Washington, Jim Oliver (Bev) of Sioux Falls, SD, Tom Oliver of Norfolk, VA, Charles Oliver (Maria) of San Antonio, TX, Larry Oliver (Kim) of Beattyville, Garry Oliver (Weldon) of Charlotte, NC, Rebecca Smyth (Fred) of New Harmony, IN, Don Rigdon of Cincinnati, OH, Daniel Rigdon of Beattyville, Sam Cockerham (Edna) also of Beattyville, Deb Gevedon (Hank) of Mt. Vernon, Johnny Oliver (Bonnie) Wilmington, OH, and Louann Bartholomew (Dale) of Cincinnati.
In addition to her parents, Gladys was preceded in death by brothers, Herman, Walker, Jesse Ray and John Paul, and sisters, Annie Laurie Brandenburg, Ruth Smyth, Beulah Wilson, Marie Rigdon, and Madge Cockerham, 2 nephews, 2 nieces, and 1 great nephew.
Funeral Services will be held at Newnam Funeral Home at 2 PM on Saturday, September 21, 2024 with Pastor Glen Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in Evans Cemetery at Campton, KY. Visit 12-2 PM.