Gladys Stegall Hornsby's Obituary
Gladys Emma Stegall Hornsby , 93, was born March 28, 1913 in Upshur County, Texas. Her parents were Caroline Langford Carrie Stegall and William W. Stegall. She was married to William Bradford Bill Hornsby who died March 3, 1981.
She resided in East Texas almost all her life. She spent her young life in the Upshur County region with her family; she was the youngest and last surviving of nine children. For a few years during World War II she, her husband Bill, and their three children lived in Electra, Texas where Bill was employed in the oil industry. They returned to Gladewater and later to White Oak where they lived for many years at 321 White Oak Road.
She died at the Song Bird Assisted Living in Longview on April 10. On March 25 she was admitted to the hospital for a week; she returned to the Song Bird with hospice care, special nursing and sitters. The family is grateful to the many people who helped care for her and make her final days pleasant, comfortable, and painless. She received compassion and comfort care from many?among those are Mary Askew, Gene Minchew-Allbright, Stephanie Dunn, Billy Stegall, Greater Hospice of Longview, and the entire staff of Song Bird.
At the assisted living facility she continued to be involved in visiting, outings, assisting with the mail, arranging religious meetings, helping to decorate the center for holidays, etc. She was interested and vigorous?still making Friday trips to the beauty shop?until March 25.
Gladys was a woman of many talents and interests. She gloried in exploring new hobbies and new undertakings. She was a very talented seamstress and designer; she sewed for herself and her daughters. She designed and sewed many projects for home decorations?specializing in window treatments?for herself, her family and others. Gladys took courses at Kilgore College ranging from hat making to cake decorating and quilting. She and her husband owned many rental properties; she was the major renovator and decorator on many of the projects.
She was active in the White Oak Missionary Baptist Church for over 50 years, where she sang in the choir and served as Sunday School teacher for the Primary Class for thirty-seven years and, later as teacher for the adult Loyal Workers Class. Recently she joined the Greggton Missionary Baptist Church.
Gladys Hornsby was active in the White Oak Parent Teacher Association during all the years her children were in school. She served in many offices of the White Oak PTA, including president. She later was president of the County Council of PTAs and active at the regional and state level. Even after her last child was in college, she still served and attended the state conventions and supported PTA causes. She received many honors for the work, including a National Life PTA membership, and was privileged to meet several famous people. She especially treasured her meeting with Dr. Louis Sabin who developed polio vaccine. She was pictured with him in several publications.
She was an avid gardener who found much joy in her flowers, her lawn, her trees and in caring for her home in White Oak. She was an excellent cook and baked pies to perfection, much to the delight of her family. She was famous for the chicken and dumplings recipe and for demonstrating her technique which was featured in the Longview newspaper. She was both a Girl Scout and a Cub Scout leader.
The April 2005 issue of ?The Reader?s Digest? relates an incident in her recent life that exemplifies her forward-looking mind set. Her daughter, Mary, wrote that when told to stop worrying about her finances since she had enough money to remain at Song Bird for seventeen more years, Gladys said, ?What will I do then??
She is survived by her three children: Mary Scott Max of Edom who was her primary care supervisor; Carol Bennett Robert of College Park, Maryland, and tom Hornsby Carol of Hilton Head, Sough Carolina. She is also survived by six grandchildren?Bill Bennett of Newport News, Virginia; Patrice Bennett of Jacksonville, Florida; Steve Scott Cindi of Houston; Chris Scott of Edom; Alisha Hornsby of Marina del Rey, California; and Brad Hornsby of Palo Alto, California?and by five great-grandchildren?Jake, Katie, T.J., Kallie and Noel, all Scotts?and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members plus many friends and acquaintances and Song Bird family.
Services will be 2 PM Thursday at the Rader funeral Home chapel with Reverends Bill Voss and James Kirkland officiating. Interment will follow in the Old White Oak Cemetery. Family visitation will be Wednesday afternoon 5 to 7 PM at Rader Funeral Home.
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