Gladys Woolsey Sommers

Gladys Woolsey Sommers passed away peacefully on August 18, 2021 in Kalispell, Montana at Edgewood Memory Care. Gladys and her late husband Ray were long time residents of East Missoula. Gladys was an adventurer who always enjoyed experiencing something new, especially during her later years in life. During most of her of life you would either find her in the kitchen canning or baking; or out in the yard working on her flowers or the garden. She always enjoyed a good joke or story and she would share them with you at every opportunity. She was the matriarch of the family and one of her greatest joys in life was spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and always with her other family relatives. She was always involved in planning some sort of family gathering. It could have been a cousin’s reunion; a family get together; or a rehearsal dinner; Gladys was always willing to take on the task of putting it together and cooking most of the food. She will be missed by all who knew and met her.

Born June 13, 1921, in Stevensville to Mary and Earl Woolsey, Gladys was the middle child to her brothers and sisters – George, Vernon, John (Arthur), Pauline, Kay), and Gene. Growing up in a large family during tough times gave Gladys the education that she would need to carry on for the rest of her life.

Gladys met the love of her life, Ray Sommers, in Lolo, Montana and on February 19, 1940 Ray and Gladys were married in Hamilton, Montana and the two of them embarked on a new life long adventure. In the spring of 1940, they began building the family home in East Missoula one room at a time and Gladys lived in that home until the fall of 2013. There life together brought them 4 beautiful children – Shirley, Sharon, Barbara and Brian, and a whole new set of adventures and challenges, which included grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

During her life Gladys worked at a few jobs here and there, but for the most part she was the keeper of the house, the yard and the garden. Taking care of those kids and the home was a full-time job that she enjoyed and relished. She baked everything from bread to pies and she canned everything as well. Some years she would can 300 to 400 quarts of fruit and vegetables. She made her own syrup and she put up hundreds of jars of jam and jelly. In her later years Gladys baked thousands of cookies and shared them with whoever happened to stop by for a visit. In 2013, Gladys made a life change and moved to Kalispell, Montana and lived next door to Brian and Judy until 2017. She was always up for a trip whether you were just going for a drive, visiting a museum or hauling hay, she was ready to go. In 2017 she moved into Edgewood Memory Care due to complications from dementia. Even though she was battling dementia, Gladys never lost her sense of humor. She may not know who you were on any given day but she could always tell you a story or share a joke.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Ray; parents Mary and Earl; her siblings George, Vernon, John, Pauline and Kay; her daughters Shirley (d. 1963), Barbara (d. 1982) and Sharon (d. 2011); grandson David; and granddaughters Shelly and Deborah.

Gladys is survived by her son Brian and Judy of Kalispell; brother Gene of California; granddaughters Becky and Mark, Laurie and Ty, Kathi, Mandi and grandsons Nate and Robert; as well as numerous great and great-great grandchildren.

A reception will be held to remember and celebrate Gladys on November 7, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the American Legion Union Hall, 754 Middle Burnt Fork Road, Stevensville, Montana.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memory of Gladys Woolsey Sommers, NW Montana History Museum, 124 2nd Ave E, Kalispell, Montana 59901.