Gladys Gwendolyn Atkinson
Gladys Gwendolyn Atkinson
September 2, 1933 - April 11, 2019
Gladys Gwendolyn Atkinson, 85, of Marble Falls, passed away peacefully at her home on April 11, 2019. Memorial Services will be held on April 20, 10:30 a.m. at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, with Mr. Terry Taylor officiating.
Born Sept. 2, 1933, in Bishop, Texas to Wiley Monroe and Lena Mae Williamson, she graduated from Robstown High School in 1951. An avid minister of hard work, Gladys spent her life practicing what she preached, beginning her first job at the age of 14, later dedicating 28 years to proudly serving in the Texas State Comptroller’s Office.
World-renowned for her sass and transparency…you could bet that Gladys would never miss an opportunity to share her opinion or tell you how it is. Famously among her honest declarations was the reality that her passing would be accompanied by the loss of the gastronomic craftmanship of her most famed culinary masterpieces: chicken tacos, buttermilk pie and King Ranch Casserole. In her opinion, it would be inconceivable for any human-being to reasonably re-create these artistic expressions of mouthwatering genius.
Known for her frugality and her passion for a deal, Gladys could skillfully negotiate a discount on an item offered for free. Her passion for Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream, Dancing with the Stars, and the Bluebonnet Rock House was only surpassed by her love of her grandchildren and the great state of Texas. As a new grandmother in 1974, she sharply professed that she was “…too young to be called Grandma,” further declaring that she would now be known as ‘Nana.’
Fashionable, as all good Texas women should be, you were more likely to put eyes on Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny than you were to catch Gladys without her hair, outfit and make-up looking as if she were ready for the Oscar’s. The recipient of a prestigious award for a 12-point buck vested in the back 40 of her Marble Falls ranch, it is rumored that Gladys shot that buck shortly after an exceptional visit to her hair salon and while wearing high heels and her best set of pearls. Without question, the deer of the hill country can now sleep soundly at night knowing they no longer need fear the ‘Sniper of Burnet County.’
Throughout her life, she has been a loving daughter, adventurous teenager, decades spanning fashionista, public servant, loving wife, dedicated mother, dancing machine, steadfast feminist, real estate mogul, hard-nosed rancher, Marble Falls historian, loyal friend and an overindulgent grandmother. She traveled the world, laughed at inappropriate jokes at every opportunity, and missed the ‘memo’ on what women should or shouldn’t do in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Proving that devout feistiness and stubbornness were her super-powers, during her waning months, she served as the model for strong will and sheer determination right up until the end of her adventures here on earth.
She left behind a whole lot of stuff for her daughters, son and grandchildren, who have no idea what to do with it all but are in love with each and every item. Among her treasures we have found a zillion pairs of high heels, assorted taxidermy, fashionable costume jewelry, a small arsenal of shot guns, white go-go boots, a car with nearly 175,00 hard miles on it (she loved putting the pedal to the metal), and dozens of hand written recipes that will help us to celebrate her life for generations to come.
Gladys will be desperately missed and survived by her brother, W.M. (Irene) Williamson; her three children, her daughters Rebecca Faye (Gary) Smith of Odem and Beverly Sue Petty of Granite Shoals; her son, Dilford Douglas Atkinson, Jr. of Marble Falls; her granddaughters, Angel Smith of Washington DC, Sandy Petty of Granite Shoals, Stacy (Ron) Howell of Kingsland; and her grandsons, Todd (Julie) Smith of Port Neches and William (Sherry) Smith of Dallas. Gladys enjoyed the love of 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild in her life.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Wilma Pavelka, Dorothy Clinton, Monetta Bollom, Mable Jo Patton (her best friend, world adventure partner and fellow lover of margaritas); and most importantly her loving husband, Allen, who certainly inaugurated their reunion with a glass of discount wine and plate of finely prepared back-strap.
We love you, Nana. Don’t forget to have the margaritas and chicken tacos ready when we see you again.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery Chapel.
Online condolences may be made at:
dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/marble-falls-tx/clements-wilcox-funeral-home/1798
