Visitation will be held ~Sunday, December 18, 2022

2:00pm-7:00pm

Fred Wood Funeral Home ~ Rice Chapel

36100 Five Mile Rd. Livonia (E of Levan)

 

Funeral Service ~ Monday, December 19, 2022

Gathering 10:00am   Service 11:00am

Fred Wood Funeral Home ~ Rice Chapel

36100 Five Mile Rd. Livonia (E of Levan)

 

Memorial Contributions may be made to:

VFW Post 32

9318 Newburgh Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48150

American Heart Association - Grand Rapids

3940 Peninsular Dr. SE, Suite 180, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

 

Arrangements in the care of Modetz Funeral Home-Silverbell Chapel

Gladys Odale (Simmons) Steadman, born on January 20, 1931 in Coffee County, Tennessee to Luther Samson Simmons and Bertha Mae Elam. She was the sixth of seven children. Gladys was predeceased by her siblings; Ruby Marie (Howard Lewis), Lila Mae (William Martin), Virgel Leon (Doris), Dorothy Jane (Bill & Ralph), Jenolia (Jay) Ruth (Howard "T" Hix), and Sylvia Pauline (Polly). She is survived by her brother-in-law Donald Nash.

Gladys was raised on a farm where life was hard, but her mother’s cooking was the stuff of legions. She moved to Detroit when she was 11 years old and was happy to have indoor plumbing and electricity.

Gladys met Bill Steadman when she was working at the Cunningham’s soda fountain in Highland Park, Michigan. Bill was working at Sears across the street and would come into Cunningham’s for lunch. She also met her best friend Ruby (Valentine) Coley working there.

Gladys and Bill were married on December 15, 1951 and welcomed their first daughter Karen Lynn in 1955. They moved to Livonia in 1961 and had two more daughters followed by Julie Ann in 1964, and Crista Marie in 1965.

Gladys is survived by her children/spouses/grandchildren/great grandchildren

 Karen Lynn (Greg Hueston)

    Andrea (Craig Evans)

       Hunter and Sam

   Travis (Amy)

        Eli and Allie

   Jennifer (Brad Sitzman)

       Iris

   Tyler Bryson (Amanda)      

        Liam and Colin

   Tory Philip (Rachel)

        Becca and Laney

    Ashley (Justin Adams)

        Jackson, Morgan, and Ashton

            

 Julie Ann (Charles Wagner)

      Joshua, Deceased

          Blake

       Adam (Audrey)

          JJ, Ethan, and Natalie

      Thomas, Deceased

      Kendell (Paul [significant other])

          Bryson, Joshua, Lyla, Charles,  Stella, and Jameson

 Crista Marie (Gary Kolin)

        Gary

        Craig

        Steven (Rachel)

Gladys had many nieces and nephews whom she loved greatly and they loved her.

Gladys retired in 1993 and her and Bill spent the next 7 years traveling and taking it easy until Bill had a stoke in 2000. Glady took excellent care of Bill until his passing in 2003. 

Afterwards, Gladys’s surviving sisters and their spouses, especially Polly, Don and “T” rallied around her, taking her with them on trips, to the Senior Center in Warren, and just basically providing a solid social life outside of her daughters and grandchildren. When she was home, her grandchildren all wanted to spend time with her. She made them all feel they were her “special” grandchild.

Gladys had some hard times, losing her beloved husband Bill, all her sisters, her brother and worst of all two of her grandsons, Thomas and Joshua Wagner, but she prevailed.

In 2008; Karen, Julie and Crista started to go on Mother – Daughter trips with Gladys. Every trip was a new adventure with new stories that provided tons of laughter and enjoyment. Some of the trips included: Gettysburg PA to retrace a childhood vacation, New York City after 9-11 and Julie driving Karen’s van (what an experience to drive in NYC), Long Island to watch Kendell perform and Jones beach. Other trips included Mackinaw Island and staying at the Grand Hotel, a place she always wanted to visit and stay at; Traverse City and Indianapolis. So many fun times and memories her daughters will always cherish.

In 2019 Gladys fell at home and broke her hip. After surgery and rehab, she moved into an Adult Care Home in Livonia, close to Julie and Crista and then COVID hit and in-person access was cut off. Once the ban was lifted if was joy full to be re-united.

Gladys passed peacefully on December 14th with Crista, Julie and Kendall by her side.