Gladys Lafferty

CHARLESTON – Gladys Loraine (Woodyard) Lafferty, 105, of Charleston, passed away Friday, May 3, 2019.

Her funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2019, at the Harper-Swickard Funeral Home.  Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery, Charleston.  Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to: Lincolnland Hospice, Charleston Community Church, or donor's choice.

Gladys was born in Rardin, Illinois, the second daughter to the late Jesse and Flora Woodyard, who had seven children.  She is the last of the seven.  She attended California country school and Rardin High School before leaving school at age 14 to help her mother care for younger siblings.  She married Everett Lafferty in 1936; he preceded her in death in 1981.

Gladys was retired from the Brown Shoe Company, having worked there over 30 years.  She is survived by a son: Thomas (Francine) of O'Fallon, IL; a granddaughter: Kara (Christopher) Clark of Glenview, IL; and a grandson: Mark (Julie) Lafferty of Naperville, IL.  Five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.  Her extended family was very special and important to her.  She cared greatly for them all.  She was a member of Charleston Community Church, and made many friends, especially Dottie Jordan, who was a friend to the end.

The last four years of her life, she lived in Heritage Woods, where with the assistance they gave her, continued independent daily living, even with greatly diminished eyesight, and enjoyed the friends and new acquaintances she made.  She was an empathetic listener and a reservoir of knowledge about her extended family and local area history.  Shortly after turning 105, her physical health made a more rapid decline and she moved to Hilltop Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in late April to get the care she required.

A special thank you to the staff of Heritage Woods for their support and care and also the Hilltop staff for making her comfortable the short time she was there.  The services provided by Lincolnland Hospice were absolutely invaluable to her and the family.  She was with us a long time but, she will be missed.