Gladys Custer

Gladys Custer, 83, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Viewing and visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 at Myers & Smith Funeral Home from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with family receiving friends from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Gladys F. Custer was born in Loraine, Texas on March 18, 1937, to W.R. and Julia Dodd Taylor. She moved to the Big Spring in 1942. She was the youngest of seven children. Gladys grew up in the Jones Valley area of Big Spring running the hills with her girlfriends. She left school early to work and help support her mother. She would later attain her GED in Germany.

Gladys married Bob Custer on Feb. 15, 1955 in Lovington, NM. Bob was serving in the Air Force at Webb Air Force Base when they met. Gladys stayed in Big Spring when Bob served in Vietnam. She would eventually agree to packing up the family and moving with Bob to Germany where the Custer’s would travel and make great family memories. Bob preceded her in death on March 1, 2000.

When Bob, Gladys and their children, Barbara, Tammy and Carrie, returned to the states they were again stationed at Webb. Gladys got busy raising the girls and working. Gladys worked at Gibsons, Furr’s Supermarket and retired at H & R Block after 25 years. When Gladys worked at Furr ‘s she employed many of her kids (not just her own - they were ALL “her kids”) doing inventory. This gave many of those kids a work ethic.

Gladys grew up playing volleyball and soft ball, but softball was her love. Softball, hard work and caring for others resided in her the rest of her life.

Gladys loved her kids and knew keeping them busy and engaged in activities would help keep them out of trouble. In 1974 she and Jane Upton went to Austin to petition for Miss Softball America in Big Spring. The first sign-up had hundreds of girls. A softball board was formed and three different divisions were created. Gladys was instrumental in having the current softball fields donated. Gladys also coached softball and her coaching words-of-wisdom would go on to help the girls in their own lives. She formed relationships with girls that would last her lifetime. The girls and softball were important to her.

Glady’s Church was the Salvation Army where she also served on the Salvation Army Park Board.

Gladys was a lot of great things but most important she was a mother to Pennie Girl (fur baby), Barbara (Tommy) Richmond , Tammy Newell and Carrie (Shayne) Burris; Granny to Karma (J’ Dana) , Tiffany (Rodney), Amanda, Seth (Amber), Zachary, Matthew (Chelsey), Sarah (Monty), Hollie (Brandon) and great -grands Alec, Tristan, Sophia, Kaitlyn, Taylor, Reagan, Kaden, Addison, Degan, Axel, and Logan; Aunt Gladys to several nieces and nephews.

Autumn Rain :

“Do not stand at my grave and weep:i am not there. I do not sleep, I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond’s gilt of snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn’s rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush. I am the swift uplifting rush and quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not Die.”

Arrangements are by Myers & Smith Funeral Home. Pay your respects online at www.myersandsmith.com