Gladys Appleby (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Edna Gladys Appleby, daughter of Alva and Anna L. Burks McDonald, was born September 3, 1917, near Fordland, in Webster County, Missouri. She departed this life Wednesday, August 18, 2010, in her home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-two years, eleven months, and fifteen days.
On April 15, 1939, she was united in marriage to John Bell “J.B.” Appleby, and to this union one daughter and three sons were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, J.B., on March 28, 2008; twin sons, Ronald and Donald Appleby; three brothers, Henry, Roy, and Glenn McDonald; and two sisters, Dorothy Lee, and Pearl Stinnett.
Gladys is survived by a daughter, Dianna Lowe, and her husband, Carl, of Lebanon, Missouri; a son, John Appleby, Jr., and his wife, Lori, of Lebanon, Missouri; five grandchildren, Brent Lowe, & his wife, Kay, Derrick Lowe, and his wife, Sonja, Kimberly Root, Ashley Kober, and her husband, Shawn, and John Appleby, III; nine great-grandchildren, Falon Ahmann, and her husband, Joe, Broc, Conor, Harlea, and Cooper Lowe, Blake, Ryker Tarah, and Josh Root; one great-great-granddaughter, Livia Ahmann; two brothers, Gene McDonald, and his wife, Betty, of Hammond, Louisiana, and Joe McDonald, and his wife, Elaine, of Springfield, Missouri; two sisters, Ila Fraiser, and her husband, Don, of Citrus Heights, California, and Ruth Bookout, and her husband, Darrell, of Springfield, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Betty McDonald, of Anaheim Hills, California; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born and raised in Webster County, Missouri. After she and J.B. were married, they made their home in several locations in Southwest Missouri before moving to Lebanon. In 1959, Gladys and J.B. founded Appleby Boat Company in Lebanon, Missouri, and Gladys was a tremendous support to her husband in his business endeavors. Throughout the years, she was also a devoted and hardworking homemaker to her husband and family.
Gladys professed her faith in Christ early in her life and was a longtime active member of First Baptist Church in Lebanon. She was always a prayer warrior and loved sharing her faith with others.
Her faith and her family were the center of her life and she greatly enjoyed her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild. She liked being outdoors where she enjoyed playing golf and fishing.
Gladys was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was a kind and caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and know that she will be fondly remembered for her sweet spirit, her ever-present, beautiful smile, and for being a true Christian lady.
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