Gladys Fern Barry

Gladys Fern Crabtree-Barry departed this life on July 13, 2006. She was born Dec. 16, 1914 to Roy A. and Jeanne S. (Bentley) Brown near Keyes, Okla. Gladys attended school near Goodwell, OK. She was on the basketball team in high school and followed basketball most of her life. She married Roy H. Twombly in April 1931. Jimmy Lee was born to this young couple. Roy died in 1934. Gladys married Marshall B. Crabtree in Feb. 1936 and helped her husband in the farming/ranching life. Four children were born into this marriage. They lived in S. E. Colorado from the spring of 1946 until the summer of 1961 at which time they moved to Denver. Marshall passed away in 1963. In the time after Marshall's death, Gladys went to Denver Community College, obtained an adult education certificate and taught English as a Second Language. Her favorite students were the Vietnamese brides of returning servicemen. Gladys married Alva Barry in June 1974 and moved to join him at his home in Oregon. After Alva's death in 1982, Gladys remained in Oregon, enjoying 15 more years there before returning to Colorado in 1997 to be nearer her family. Gladys worshipped in the Southern Baptist faith for her entire life. She also enjoyed the fellowship of the Royal Neighbors of America where she served as a Chapter Officer for many years.
Gladys enjoyed an active correspondence with several friends dating back to her grade school years in Oklahoma. Many friends and relatives will miss her cards, letters and newspaper clipping. She kept a calendar to remind her of the dates to send cards. She always wrote a personal note with the card, never just a signature. She loved receiving mail and her day revolved around the mail delivery. Many friends and family sent greeting cards to her after she was no longer able to correspond. She still loved getting the mail and was especially proud of all the cards she received on Mother's Day. Her favorite cousin, Evelyn, always sent cards with cats and Mother loved to get those cards. She also loved hearing about Evelyn's Red Hat Society activities and seeing the pictures taken there.
She enjoyed gardening, especially in Oregon where everything grew! She said she did not come back to Colorado immediately after Alva's death because she had always prayed for rain and now she did not have to! She always had houseplants and took excellent care of them. She made sure they were always watered, just the right amount, and turned to the sun properly even after she could no longer do it herself.
Gladys loved all animals and especially had a soft spot for wolves. When she lived with Jeanne and Dave, she loved their little dog, Maude, a Yorkshire terrier. She enjoyed the rescued Greyhounds at Christopher House and liked feeding them treats. She enjoyed Wendy's dog, an small Italian Greyhound, because she would lie quietly beside her. At the nursing home, she liked to be taken in her wheelchair to see the birds. The nursing home had an aviary with finches that she loved to see. At Christopher House there were also cockatiels and parakeets to visit. She liked seeing the different colored fish in the aquariums.
Gladys was also preceded in death by her brother; Kenneth, sister; Mildred and son; Jimmy Lee. Survivors include: Joanne (Jimmy's wife)Parks, Benjamin Robert (Bob) & Pat Crabtree, Jeanne & Dave Foerch, Patricia Miller, Roy A. & Susan Crabtree, Alfreda & Don Brown as well as 18 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, many cousins and a multitude of friends.

Gladys will be laid to rest next to her husband Marshall B. Crabtree at Highland Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Colorado Boys Ranch Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 681, La Junta, CO 81050.