Gladys Illa Rowley Shaw Smith, 96, of Sweet Home died March 17, 2009.
She was born April 1, 1912 in Winlock to Charles Wesley and Eliza Jane (Keyser) Rowley, the youngest of seven children.
When she was 7, the whole family moved into the Willamette Valley to a ranch up Wiley Creek, seven miles above Foster. She went to Moss Butte school one year, then her parents bought a home in Foster where they stayed and went to school during the school year, moving back and forth. She graduated from grade school and Sweet Home High School.
She married Delmer Shaw in 1936 and moved to Portland. In 1943, they moved to Spokane, Wash., where two boys were born. After a few years in Idaho and Montana they moved back to Portland.
When the boys were school-aged, Mrs. Shaw went to work in several dry cleaning offices and as a bookkeeper for Broadway Cab. She was a den mother when the boys were in Scouting. She spent her spare time knitting and gardening. After Mr. Shaw died in 1957, she moved back to Sweet Home to be near her brother and sisters.
In 1962 she married Raymond Smith and moved to Harlan over Mary’s Peak. The Smiths lived on a farm and enjoyed the great outdoors, farming, gardening, raising animals, and making new friends. Mrs. Smith belonged to the Grange and the Women’s Association. She spent many hours exploring the countryside and hills.
Mr. Smith died in 1974 and four years later she moved to Corvallis. A year later, she moved to Lebanon, near her sister. After her sister died, she moved back to Sweet Home. She taught 4-H knitting, was a member of Sweet Home Church of Christ, belonged to two quilting clubs, the Senior Gleaners, and enjoyed many friends, flowers, and reading.
Mrs. Shaw Smith is survived by one son, Charles Shaw of Sweet Home (son Gene died in an auto accident while in the Coast Guard in 1965); two blood grandchildren; four step-children, Richard of Sutherlin, Marlene McDonald of Kings Valley, Bill of Alsea and Will of Lebanon; 16 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday March 28, at 18th and Long Church of Christ.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.