Gladys Evelyn Rankin Spakes went to be with her Lord Tuesday, Dec. 23. She was surrounded by family and friends.
Gladys was born June 22, 1941, in Pine Bluff, AR to Effie Davis and Tony Edward Rankin.
She married the love of her life, Gerald Wayne Spakes Feb. 9, 1962, in Hardin, AR. Gerald was a member of the U.S. Air Force. He took his new bride from the cotton fields of Arkansas to Michigan, Utah, Mississippi, California, Germany, Maryland and Florida. During their retirement, they lived in Florida, Arkansas and North Carolina. She was a member of Salem Baptist Church in Apex, NC. They moved to Erie, CO, to be closer to their youngest grandchildren in 2011.
She is survived by her beloved husband Gerald, her son Gary Dewayne and his wife Shannon and their children Jacob William and Taylor Lee of Apex, NC, and her son Geoffrey Edward, his wife Jill Stravolemos and their children Savannah Evelyn and Grace Stinson of Erie, CO as well as her sister Janice Poindexter of Brandon, FL, and her brothers James and Sam Rankin, both of Dardanelle, AR, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to her own cherished grandchildren, she was “Nenaw” to many. She is preceded in death by her parents and seven brothers and sisters.
Her death came after a long and valiant fight with cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago, but the disease didn’t define her or those years. She was a lovely, sassy, kind, charming and generous woman with tremendous everyday grace and courage. She was deeply, fully loved and adored by many.
A graveside service will be held 10:30 AM, Friday, Jan. 2 at Fort Logan Cemetery in Denver, CO. Rev. Pam Everhart of Niwot United Methodist Church will officiate. A Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 3 at her son’s home in Erie.
Gladys’ family extends appreciation to Jody Barnett, oncology nurse navigator at Boulder Community Health; Dr. David Andorsky and the nurses and staff of Rocky Mountain Cancer Center at Boulder Community Health; Dr. Richard Daarud, Dr. John McNeil and their nurses; Tiffany Turner of Nurse Next Door and the team that was with Gladys during her last days, Amanda, Karen and Jackie; and the remarkable nurses and social workers at TRU Community Care for their care and compassion. The family acknowledges Anne Marie and John Kemp and Kristin and Matt Flood for their remarkable and unwavering support and also to Rev. Pam Everhart for praying with Gladys the day before she passed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are made to TRU Community Care, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026 or to the Boulder Community Health Foundation, P.O. Box 9019, Boulder, CO 80301.
Gladys was born June 22, 1941, in Pine Bluff, AR to Effie Davis and Tony Edward Rankin.
She married the love of her life, Gerald Wayne Spakes Feb. 9, 1962, in Hardin, AR. Gerald was a member of the U.S. Air Force. He took his new bride from the cotton fields of Arkansas to Michigan, Utah, Mississippi, California, Germany, Maryland and Florida. During their retirement, they lived in Florida, Arkansas and North Carolina. She was a member of Salem Baptist Church in Apex, NC. They moved to Erie, CO, to be closer to their youngest grandchildren in 2011.
She is survived by her beloved husband Gerald, her son Gary Dewayne and his wife Shannon and their children Jacob William and Taylor Lee of Apex, NC, and her son Geoffrey Edward, his wife Jill Stravolemos and their children Savannah Evelyn and Grace Stinson of Erie, CO as well as her sister Janice Poindexter of Brandon, FL, and her brothers James and Sam Rankin, both of Dardanelle, AR, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to her own cherished grandchildren, she was “Nenaw” to many. She is preceded in death by her parents and seven brothers and sisters.
Her death came after a long and valiant fight with cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago, but the disease didn’t define her or those years. She was a lovely, sassy, kind, charming and generous woman with tremendous everyday grace and courage. She was deeply, fully loved and adored by many.
A graveside service will be held 10:30 AM, Friday, Jan. 2 at Fort Logan Cemetery in Denver, CO. Rev. Pam Everhart of Niwot United Methodist Church will officiate. A Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 3 at her son’s home in Erie.
Gladys’ family extends appreciation to Jody Barnett, oncology nurse navigator at Boulder Community Health; Dr. David Andorsky and the nurses and staff of Rocky Mountain Cancer Center at Boulder Community Health; Dr. Richard Daarud, Dr. John McNeil and their nurses; Tiffany Turner of Nurse Next Door and the team that was with Gladys during her last days, Amanda, Karen and Jackie; and the remarkable nurses and social workers at TRU Community Care for their care and compassion. The family acknowledges Anne Marie and John Kemp and Kristin and Matt Flood for their remarkable and unwavering support and also to Rev. Pam Everhart for praying with Gladys the day before she passed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are made to TRU Community Care, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026 or to the Boulder Community Health Foundation, P.O. Box 9019, Boulder, CO 80301.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Service Information
Fort Logan National Cemetery
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors