Gladis Denmark Maw

Gladis Denmark Maw December 22, 1917 - September 7, 2013 Gladis Denmark Maw of Waco passed away Saturday, September 7, 2013, at her residence, surrounded by her family. Memorial services will be 11:30 a.m., Thursday, September 12, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Chaplain Kermit Brock and Pastor Steve Ramsdell will officiate. Following interment at Waco Memorial Park, a reception will be held at First United Methodist Church, 4901 Cobbs Drive, Waco. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, September 11, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Gladis Inez Campbell was born December 22, 1917, to Ellie and Alvin Campbell in Canton, Van Zandt County, Texas. She graduated from Canton High School in 1934. Because of the Great Depression, she was unable to attend Baylor University, which was her dream. In the fall of 1934, her parents moved the family to Horatio, Arkansas. In 1938, she met and married Hobson Denmark. They were the parents of four children, Carolyn, David, Paul, and Margaret. They moved to California, where she became active in the children's schools and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She served as secretary and Sunday school teacher at the Wesleyan Methodist church. When Margaret was in school, Gladis enrolled in a nearby college and graduated four years later. In 1956, Hobson died as the result of a tragic accident, and she became a single mother. She began teaching in the Torrance Unified School District, where she taught for thirteen years. In 1963, Gladis was offered a teaching position at the American Military Dependents School in Wiesbaden, Germany. While there she met and married Lt. Col. Clarence E. Joe Maw. They moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he taught Jr. ROTC. They returned to Wiesbaden, where they both taught and were able to travel to many countries. In 1976, the Maws returned to Waco, where they bought and restored the beautiful old Davis home near Cameron Park and lived for twenty-three years. Mrs. Maw was a member of First Baptist Church, Hamilton House, Fonce Club, Sesame Club, Phi Sigma Alpha and Daughters' of the Nile. For several years she served as a volunteer at Baylor Strecker Museum. She later transferred her church membership to First United Methodist Church, because she could no longer drive to First Baptist Church. She was a member of the Chapel Sunday School Class. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Hobson Denmark and Clarence E. Joe Maw; sons, David and Paul Denmark; and brothers, Bluford Bill, John, Jim, and Perry Campbell. She is survived by daughters, Carolyn and son-in-law, Jim Copenhaver, of Marietta, Georgia, and Margaret Manson and her partner, Sandy Sladen, of Shutesbury, Massachusetts; daughters-in-law, Barbara Denmark of Dallas, Georgia and Pam Denmark of Medford, Oregon; sisters, Ruth Reaves of Conroe, Texas, Dorothy Key of Eugene, Oregon and June Bell of Cheshire, Oregon; and brother, Don Campbell of Horatio, Arkansas. She leaves 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. The family of Gladis Maw wishes to thank Dr. Charles Stern for the wonderful care he gave our mother. We also thank the teachers of the Chapel Sunday School Class, Bill and J'Ann Aman, for their love and encouragement after she was unable to attend church. We especially thank Evelyn Brock, a member of the First United Methodist Church Senior Ministry, who spent many hours providing love, understanding and comfort; also our gratitude goes to Dr. Baxter Johns who provided communion. Another special thanks goes to Mother's "adopted Waco daughter," Ramona Cooper, who provided all the things that daughters do food, flowers, love. Pallbearers are Erik Botsford, Michael Denmark, Mark Copenhaver, Andrew Manson, Matthew Manson, and Steven Manson. Honorary pallbearers are James Copenhaver, John Copenhaver, James Denmark and Stephen Denmark. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Meals on Wheels at the First United Methodist Church Waco. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey