Gladys Marie Sowers, 88

Published 9:46 am Thursday, December 17, 2020

Gladys Marie Sowers, 88, of Nicholasville, passed away December 9, 2020, in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She was born in Moreland, Ky., on May 8, 1932, to the late Loren Edward and Dolly Maude Foley. She met the love of her life, JC Sowers, while riding a bus to school, and began dating him a few years later after reuniting at church services. Their union lasted almost 70 years before he passed away on February 9, 2018, and resulted in three children.

She was saved and baptized at Locust Grove Baptist Church in Kings Mountain, Ky., and later attended Gilbert’s Creek Baptist Church in Lancaster, Nicholasville Baptist Church and was a founding member of Edgewood Baptist Church, Nicholasville. She worked in several retail stores over the years, including Graves Cox in Lexington and Lee’s Menswear in Nicholasville. Gladys was a noted seamstress and an expert at alterations. Retail customers appreciated her eye for color and textures and often asked her advice in choosing clothes for special occasions. Although Gladys was a private person, her personality and good nature made her an asset wherever she worked. Shortly after her husband retired from IBM, Gladys also retired. However, she later enjoyed working as a receptionist at her son’s Nicholasville tax practice for many years.

Out of necessity, Gladys learned to cook at the age of eight and perfected the art during the remainder of her life. Her house was always full of wonderful things to eat and welcoming to friends and family alike. Gladys appreciated listening to classical music and loved using pastel colors to decorate her house or workplace for every season.

Gladys is survived by a son, Don Edward Sowers, of Nicholasville, honorary family member and best friend, Mary Jo Harrod, four granddaughters—Heather Sowers, Holly Parmley, April Brandenburg and Jenni Jones (Randy); six great-grandchildren—Kristen Parmley, MacKenzie Brandenburg, Nicole Reed, Shawn Reed, Abigail Jones and Brady Jones; and several great-great-grandchildren. Besides her parents and husband, Gladys was preceded in death by a daughter, Bonita Ann Sowers; a son, James Clifton Sowers, who died shortly after birth; and her sister, Shirley (Foley) Mullins.

Visitation is at Spurlin Funeral Home in Lancaster from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, December 17,2020 followed by a brief service at Maple Grove Cemetery in Nicholasville at 1 p.m., with Rev. Steven Sholar officiating. Pallbearers are Bo Brandenburg, Allen Peel, Paul Bingham, Bruce Mullins and Danny Flora. Honorary pallbearers are Jeff Parmley and Randy Jones.