Gladys Marie Leonard, 93, of Lebanon, Oregon passed away y of natural causes on Wednesday, July, 29, 2015 at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House in Albany. She was born in Washburn, Arkansas to Dockie and Rose (Francis) Shepard.

Gladys met Boyce Leonard in 1937, and they were married in 1938. After they were married, Boyce worked in coal mines in Arkansas and Oklahoma where he was in two nearly fatal accidents. In 1943, they moved to California where Gladys’s first job was working in a delicatessen and Boyce worked with Phelps-Dodge copper products making shell casings for the war effort. A short time later, Gladys was assembling engine mounts and riveting B-24 bombers for World War II.

In 1961, while working at 3M and being mom to three kids, Gladys took night courses and earned her high school diploma from Bell Gardens High School.

Gladys and Boyce worked for the 3M Company for more than 30 years in various positions. They retired in 1980 and moved to Lebanon.

Gladys was an avid gardener and canner of all things fruit and vegetable. She was known as Grandma Jelly by many of the grandkids. For many years, she supplemented her income with her homemade “Grandma’s Peanut Brittle…with real butter”. She loved to sew and made some very beautiful quilts, as well as clothes for the kids and grandkids. She also enjoyed working and tooling leather. Her favorite book was the Bible.

Gladys and Boyce loved to hunt and fish together.

Gladys attended New Hope Church in Lebanon, Oregon.

Gladys is survived by: her son, Gene Leonard, of Downey, California; her daughter, Patsy Hoots, of Sweet Home, Oregon; daughter, Shirley Rivera, of Yorba Linda, California; and 17 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, and 16 great-great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Boyce, of Lebanon, her three sisters, and four brothers.

Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 8, 2015 at New Hope Church in Lebanon; 37180 Gore Dr., Lebanon, OR 97355. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. Final burial will take place at 2:00 p.m., at Powell Cemetery in Lebanon. Pastor Garland Rogers will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Gladys’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be mailed to the Samaritan Evergreen Hospice located at 1046 6th Ave. SW, Albany, Oregon 97322.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.