Gladys Choate

Gladys Opal Dougherty Choate, 97 was greeted by Jesus in heaven today. She passed away from complications of a stroke in Waterloo formerly of Des Moines.

An outdoor service will be held at 12 p.m. on Monday, March 15, 2021, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, with Pastor Heather Wachendorf from Highland Park Christian Church, officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa. Masks will be required.

Gladys was born in Des Moines, Iowa to Sherman Dougherty and Christena Siedel Dougherty (McCabe) on July 29, 1923. She married Junior on March 25, 1942 in Des Moines.

Gladys supported her husband during WW II and was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary. Gladys helped with the poppies, bake sales and pancake breakfast. They both loved music and dancing at social events.

During the early years of marriage, they had a sod business which their 3 kids “volunteered” to help with. They bought a farm in Missouri in 1953 and the family spent their summer weekends planting crops, pulling weeds, and checking for snakes and critters in the outhouse. Friends and family looked forward to seeing the fireworks during the July 4th holiday. It was always a great show because this was before safety first and it was legal in Missouri. Nobody lost any fingers, although there were many burns. They did this for more than 50 years.

Gladys indirectly touched many lives through being a lunch lady at Holt School. She also worked at Look Magazine 6 years, and Kmart cafeteria for 11. At the church she was a wedding coordinator for many years, kitchen help and pie baker. Trick or treaters came many miles to get one of her jello pop-corn balls. She shared her love of baking and of painting ceramics with her grandchildren. Many people enjoyed her flowers, roses and garden while visiting. Gladys always had pop and very yummy sweets on her front porch for anybody who stopped by. Gladys and Bert loved having many fun family reunions at their house. The homemade ice cream was the best! Even if it had to be hand cranked.

Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, a loving husband, a beloved son Lester, two sisters, Florence Saltzman and Mable Brezina, sons in-law Walter Spragg and David Smith, and a grandson Robert Smith.

Gladys is survived by two daughters, Mary Ann Spragg, and Beverly Smith of Waterloo, and daughter-in-law Judy Choate of Des Moines. Grandchildren: Christena, Brenda, Mark, Lou Anne, Angie, Lester, and Heather Ann. And many great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren. Sisters-in law Pat Keith, and Arlene Scott, brother-in-law, Kenneth Choate, many nieces and nephews and cousins and friends.

Memorials may be given to Highland Park Christian Church or Cedar Valley Hospice. The family of Gladys Choate wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Cedar Valley Hospice and Pastor Heather Wachendorf.

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