Gladys Blaise Hightower

Gladys Blaise Hightower Gladys Blaise Hightower crossed over to life eternal peacefully on Mother’s Day, May 14th, 2006. Services will be held at 2 pm Thursday, May 18th at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home on Bosque Blvd. The Reverend Chuck Treadwell, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Waco, will preside. Visitation will be held from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, May 17th at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Interment will immediately follow at Oakwood Cemetery after the service. “G.G.,” as she was affectionately called, was tiny in stature, but large in heart. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed. On June 6th, 2006, Gladys would have celebrated her 93rd birthday. As a young woman of 43, G.G. was preceded in death by William J. Benke, her first husband and father of her only child, Shirley Kay Williams of Waco. Gladys Blaise married Billy E. Hightower, a World War II veteran and purple heart recipient, in 1967. Along with 35 years of marriage, they shared a zest for life, a love of dancing and a passion for history, especially genealogy. She was preceded in death by Bill Hightower in 2002. G.G. graduated from Kenedy High School in Kenedy, Texas. After marriage, she followed a career in Civil Service at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She was a dedicated Christian and a patriotic American. G.G. was an active member of National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, The Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, and the Colonial Dames of America. Gladys Hightower proudly wore the DAR cameo which denoted four living generations of NS/DAR members. She was an avid historian and genealogist. Gladys is survived by daughter, Shirley and husband, Dr. Bill Williams of Waco; granddaughters, Sharron and husband, Dr. Steve Cutbirth of Waco, Susan and husband, Jeff W. Miller of Ft. Worth, and Mary Ann Williams; great granddaughters, Catherine and husband, Will Powers of Austin, Caroline Cutbirth and Blaise Miller; and great-grandson, Pierce Miller. She is also survived by the children of husband, Bill Hightower: Gale and husband, Mike Bretzke, June Orr, and Pam Hightower Timmerman; grandchildren, Clint Bretzke and wife, Gena, Bobby Bretzke and wife, Brenda, Reece and Joy Orr; great grandchildren, Hailey and Caitlyn Bretzke, all of New Braunfels, Texas. The family would like to thank Dorothy Alexander for her devoted friendship to G.G., the clergy and staff of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and the caregivers at Eden House on Lake Air Drive, who extended such loving care to G.G. during the last weeks of her life. Memorials may be sent to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 515 Columbus Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701 or the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Development Office, 1776 D Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006-5303. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey