Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Recently living at Avamere assisted living in Tacoma Wash., Gladys Marie Cole Sperry was taken into the presence of her Lord and Savior June 1, 2018. Gladys was announced into this world April 14, 1920. Her family consisted of three brothers and five sisters.
Gladys married Milford (Mel) Sperry on June 23, 1944. They had three daughters and five sons; Bernita and Douglas Bergstrom, Wenatchee, Wash., Donald and Carolyn Sperry, The Dalles, Ore., Thomas and Bonnie Sperry, Redmond, Ore., Ruth and Philip Buckler, Tacoma, Wash., William and Dianne Sperry, Okinawa, Lois and Bill St. Peter, Missoula, Mont., Richard Sperry, Woodinville, Wash., and Douglas and Kim Sperry, Kent, Wash. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren.
Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Mel, and eldest daughter, Bernita Bergstrom, two brothers and four sisters; Marian Schisler, Esther Sutton, Leslie Cole, Inez Clark, Marjorie Cole, and Stanley Cole. She is survived by her brother Bruce Cole, Redding, Calif., and sister, Virginia Faith Mayo, Corbett, Ore.
Gladys worked at Boeing in Seattle, Wash., during WWII, and later was attendance secretary at Kent Meridian High School. During these years she served as organist at the Kent Alliance Church in Wash. In 1970, Gladys and Mel felt the calling of God on their lives to move to Penang, Malaysia and serve as house parents at Dalat School, a school for missionary children. Gladys and Mel returned to the US after 4 years. With a spirit of adventure and always seeking guidance of God, they moved to The Dalles. Gladys worked as secretary for Century 21 Real Estate. Together they pioneered raw land on Browns Creek Road, owned by her brother and sister. Her brother designated a small parcel for the families cemetery called “The Family Circle”. Gladys will be interned at this site alongside her husband and daughter.
She, along with Mel was involved with many ministries in their church, Calvary Baptist. They became golfers and made a few long trips with friends, Simpsons and Ashbrenners in their pickup/RVs. They moved into assisted living in Hood River, and eventually back up to the Kent/Renton area of Wash.
Gladys was a prayer warrior for her entire family of eight children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that they all would follow in the ways of God. She was a compassionate, kind, loving soul and a great and mighty jokester, leaving life on earth without sharing her pie and crust recipes. She left her entire family a strong Christian heritage.
Please join us for Gladys’ “celebration of life” service on Saturday July 21, at 2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 3350 Columbia View Drive, The Dalles.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Morrow Bible Conference, 79551 Morrow Rd, Wamic, Oregon 97063 designating funds to new, updated building projects. Tax deductible receipts are available upon request.
Gladys sister and brother-in-law, Esther and Francis Sutton, started this Bible Camp in the 1950’s.
