Baker City, Oregon
Gladys A. Spellman, 75, of Baker City, died Sept. 29, 2002, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Her graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Dennis Hickman of First Lutheran Church will officiate.
Gladys was born at Wamic on Sept. 3, 1927, to George and Della Wing. She was from a pioneer family from Germany that migrated with covered wagons to Oregon City, then to Wamic.
As a young girl, she helped in the family’s lumber mill business. She attended schools at Wamic and graduated in 1945. After graduation, she moved to The Dalles and was a telephone operator for Pacific Northwestern Bell.
During this time she was introduced to James S. Spellman. They were married on March 9, 1947, at the Lutheran Church in The Dalles.
In 1956 she moved to Baker City where she continued to work for Pacific Northwestern Bell. She also helped her husband in the trucking business.
The love and joy of her life was raising her four sons and watching her family grow. She was a very family oriented mother who had a caring heart and a soft hand. She gave of herself to everyone and was always the peacemaker.
Camping and love of the outdoors were as much a passion as the love and care that she showed in her yard when you looked at all of her beautiful dahlias. Her yard was always colorful with beautiful flowers.
She was a wonderful neighbor and loyal friend. Her family, friends and pet, Cindy, will remember her big smile and generosity, and we’ll miss her greatly.
Survivors include her four sons, Joseph and his wife, Rhonda, of Baker City, Rick and his wife, Alanna, of Union, Ern and his wife, Davon, of Meridian, Idaho, and Ron and his wife, Joanne, of Burney, Calif.; grandchildren, Carrie and Chris Folkman, Kelly Spellman, BJ and Charyl Spellman, Jason and Elizabeth Spellman, Scott and Monica Hayes, Jessica Spellman, Shonda Massey and Lacy Spellman; great-grandchildren, Austin and Taylor Folkman; brother, Grover Wing of Oroville, Calif.; sister, Hester Feely of Portland; and very special friend and sister-in-law, Josephine Bies of Portland.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, October 4, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor