Gladys Wanita (Cooper) Clifton was born April 29, 1912 at Langdon, Missouri. She was a member of the Rock Port Lutheran Church. On September 2, 1933, Gladys was united in marriage to Gordon O. Clifton. She loved her family and entertained them for Sunday dinner up to the time of her hip fracture. She was outgoing and never met a stranger; a good neighbor and friend. Her kind and loving ways will be missed by many. Gladys passed away early Thursday morning, March 12, 2009 at Tiffany Care Center, Mound City, Missouri at the age of 96 years.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas & Mary (Smith) Cooper; her son, Jan in 1988 and Gordon her husband of 60 years in 1993; sisters, Matie Christian, Hiebe Cooper and an infant brother.

Survivors include her daughter-in-law, Lois Deatz and husband, Paul of Mound City; three grandchildren, Michael Clifton and wife, Shirley of Tarkio, Missouri, Matthew Clifton and wife, Debi of Mound City, and Melinda Dudeck and husband, Mark of Oregon, Missouri; six great grandchildren, Brent and Bryce Clifton, Miles and Haylee Clifton, Andrew and Ben Dudeck; nieces, Phyllis Hollister, June Lynn and Lois Herron, all of Rock Port; great nieces and nephews and many friends.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm, Monday, March 16, 2009 at the Lutheran Church Rock Port. A private family inurnment will be held at Hunter Cemetery, Rock Port. There will be no scheduled family visitation. A register book will be available after 9:00 am, Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to be made to the Kendallwood Hospice or the Atchison County Memorial Building Foundation.

Services are under the direction of the Minter Funeral Chapel.