July 14, 1936 ~ December 30, 2018
Gladys Faye (Lebeda) Tomlin was born July 14, 1936 in the Caldwell, Kansas Hospital. She was the baby of the family, twelfth of the twelve children born to Joseph and Mary (Maly) Lebeda. She was extremely close to her brother, Dwight, until the time of his death. She did however, love each of her brothers and sisters immensely.
Glady began her education in the same country school as her brothers and sisters. This would be the same school she moved her three young daughters’ back to Oklahoma to attend, not knowing the school would close. She went on to attend Caldwell schools. She enjoyed playing basketball and loved being an Alumni of Caldwell High School. She looked forward to attending as many Homecomings as possible.
After graduating, she then went to Hutchinson, Kansas to study Bookkeeping and Accounting. There she met her future husband, Leonard. It was on one of their trips home to announce their engagement that they were involved in a car accident that she ended up suffering through for the rest of her life.
Glady married Leonard Ellsworth Tomlin, Jr on October 1, 1955. In their married life, they lived in Amarillo, Texas where Glady worked at the Boys Ranch. From there, they moved to Kansas City, Missouri and then to California where each of their daughters were born. Three babies in three years! As any daughter would, Glady missed Oklahoma and her family tremendously. It was while in Kansas City her sister, Anna Mae died. Glady would make several trips home to care for her sister’s children. To this day, they say that Glady became their second mom.
Glady and Leonard had three daughters: Colletta Carol; Tammy Lynn; and Colleen Renee’. Glady always wanted five boys so she was ecstatic when God blessed her with five grandsons and two granddaughters. Glady’s grandsons are: Levi Brett Gracy, Cory Steven McGregor, Jarrod Keith Gracy, Adam Michael Schmitz, and Joseph Gary McGregor. Her granddaughters are Emily Renee’ Cleek and Miranda Suzanne Schmitz.
Glady could not have been more proud of her daughters, sons in law, and grandchildren. But when her great grandchildren came into her life, she was over the top excited. Her precious great grandchildren include Logan Benjamin Gracy, Adyson Grace McGregor, Evelyn Kay McGregor, Jaxon Ambrose Cleek, Delaney Lynn Gracy, Daisy Jo McGregor, Lincoln Cory McGregor, Emma Renee’ Cleek, and last, her little namesake, Lila Faye McGregor. Glady spent as much time as she could traveling to Wichita to watch swimming, dancing recitals, and birthday parties, or to Colorado to hike up Castle Rock mountain and just take in the sight and sounds of Colorado. Glady looked forward to visits from her first grandson, Logan, to play games with and watch him and Sweetpea play. It was a constant joy to travel to see her Delaney as well. She was saddened that all her great-grandchildren were so spread out. Her 80th birthday brought most all her family together for such a glorious celebration.
Glady worked hard all her life. She was employed at Hub Grocery store (where she would unknowingly meet her future son in law Steve), Boeing, and other small jobs. The job she adored most was as the Head Cook at Caldwell School system for nearly 25 years. She put chili and cinnamon rolls on the map. It was a joy to cook for the students of Caldwell and a heart breaking decision when she decided to retire.
Glady took pleasure in singing. She was honored to lead worship at the Renfrow Methodist Church until its closing. Upon moving to Edmond, Oklahoma she would make it her Sunday morning tradition to drink coffee and watch Joel Olsteen. She loved God and taught her children to worship Him, hand over all their disappointments and fears to Him. It was not unusual for her to encourage her struggling loved ones to memorize Psalm 27, one of her favorite chapters.
One could summarize Glady’s life and passion as one of love. She never knew a stranger and made it her life’s mission to help others in any capacity. Each of her daughters would know this love in the school clothes she sewed, the formals for Rainbow’s, and most especially, their wedding dresses. All made with the utmost of love.
On December 30, 2018, the Hospice nurses of Via Christi St Francis in Wichita, Kansas lovingly washed her hair and bathed her ever so gently. It was the Lord’s Day and she was ready to go into His Presence. She left this world at 10:40 PM for a joyous reunion in Heaven. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; daughter Tammy Gracy; parents, Joseph and Mary; six brothers Dwight, Joe, Milan, Frank, Melo, and Ernie; and four sisters, Anna Mae Rohrer, Alice Hovorka, Eileen Ward, and Mary Jane Garris, and of course, her beloved dog, Sweetpea
Glady is lovingly survived by her daughters Colletta and husband Steve, and Colleen and husband Mike, son-in-law Jeffery Gracy; grandchildren Levi and wife Nicole, Cory and wife Kari, Jarrod and Andria, Adam and wife Michelle, Joe and wife Shannon, Emily and husband JD, and Miranda; her great grandchildren Logan, Adyson, Evelyn, Delaney, Jaxon, Daisy, Lincoln, Emma, and Lila; and her last surviving sibling, Vernie Lebeda.
She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 3, 2019 at the Central Christian Church in Caldwell, Kansas.
Memorials may be given in memory of Glady to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, CHS Alumni Association Scholarship Fund or to the American Heart Association and may be left in care of the Mortuary.
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Condolences
Bless Glady's Heart
Shella Wanzer - 12/31/2018
I'm so sorry to hear about Glady's passing. She was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love you, Shella, Dennis and Kyle Wanzer
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So sorry to hear this-
Jim Barrett - 01/02/2019
So sorry to hear this--prayers to her family. She was my favorite "lunch lady" serving all of us Caldwell kids with a smile. I got to reconnect with her while she was living in Edmond when her Messenger was delivered to our house by mistake. We had a wonderful talk and she was still the same great smiling beautiful lady!
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Sorry to have another Classmate (CHS class of 1954) leave
O.V. Williams - 01/02/2019
Gladdy,
I sent an "E Mail" to remaining Class Mates about your Funeral.
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So sorry to hear of the passing of Glady.
Jerry and Maril... - 01/04/2019
Glady was a special lady with a great smile. I was a freshman as she was a senior at CHS. We connected again as Jerry and I moved back to Caldwell in 1971. Glady was working in the food service at that time and at least through the years that our kids were in CHS. Good memories. Our prayers for comfort for her family are being sent.
