Gladys Louise Swart was the tenth of fourteen children born to George Martin and Zula May Gilkerson Swart. She arrived in this world on January 14, 1930 at the Swart Homeplace in rural Gove County, Kansas near Campus. Gladys departed her life on earth on April 15, 2019 at Brookdale Senior Living in Denver, Colorado.
Gladys grew up on a working farm and learned at a young age how to cook, clean, perform daily chores, sew, embroider, and play card games and dominoes. She began her education in 1935 in the first grade at Star School, a country schoolhouse near her home. Next, she attended primary school in Donna, Texas. Her parents and the younger children lived in the lower Rio Grande Valley while her father George trucked citrus fruit north to Kansas. When the family returned to Kansas, Gladys completed her education in Grinnell, graduating with the Grinnell Rural High School Class of 1947. The Swart Family worshipped at the Grinnell Methodist Church.
Gladys attended both the University of Kansas in Lawrence and Brown-Mackie School of Business in Salina. While attending KU, she met a fellow student from Ohio enrolled in the V-12 Navy College Training Program. Gladys and Carl Robert “Bob” Rowley were united in marriage on May 24, 1950 at the Oakley Methodist Church. To this union three children were born: Deborah, Brenda, and Michael. Bob’s employment opportunities took Gladys and her family to Alberta, Canada, followed by North Dakota, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas, and Ohio.
In 1960, Gladys returned to western Kansas to raise her three young children. She was employed at The Oakley Graphic for one year followed by the next 37 years at The Farmers State Bank, retiring in 1998.
Gladys was a member of the Oakley United Methodist Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, Order of Eastern Star, National Association of Bank Women, Cameo Club, Sunflower Club, and several pitch and bridge card groups. She enjoyed following her children and grandchildren in their activities and often traveled with them on vacation. Her hands were always busy with sewing, handwork, crocheting, knitting, ceramics, crafts, and cooking. Many a delicious meal was shared at her big dining room table. She was a great pen-pal, remembering family and friends with greeting cards, letters, and e-mail notes. Community events were always enjoyed: hot air balloon rides, the Logan County Fair and BBQ, Kansas State Cornhusking Contest, and even a ride in a stunt plane. Gladys was an avid KU Basketball fan.
Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Martin Wilbert “Bill” (Alma), Alfred “Alf” (Barbara) (Janice), Dorothy (John) Tatum, Ernest “Ernie,” Georgia May, Don, Jessie (Aubrey “Cub”) Park, Bettie Burns, John Swart, Carol Swart; brother-in-law Roy Smoots; sister-in-law Betty Durham Swart; husband “Bob” Rowley, and many extended family members.
Gladys will be missed and is survived by her three children: Deborah (Jeffrey) Mercer, Brenda (David) Gray, Michael (Debra) Rowley; her six grandchildren: Sarah Mercer Anderson, Aaron (Jessica) Mercer, Rachel Gray, Jordan Rowley, Hannah Gray, and Grant Rowley; and four great-grandchildren: Cole Anderson, Leo Mercer, Jack Anderson, and May Mercer. She is also survived by her sister Ethel Smoots, her brothers Lloyd (Norma) and Oura “Lee,” brother-in-law Allan Burns, sister-in-law Geraldine Lintel Swart, as well as several cousins, many nieces and nephews, and friends.
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Friday April 19, 2019 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley. A graveside service will take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2019, at the Oakley City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Gladys’ memory to the Logan County Healthcare Foundation in care of Baalmann Mortuary, P.O. Box 204, Oakley, Kansas 67748. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
