Gladys Scudamore
October 23, 1918 — April 28, 2016
A native of the Prairie State, Gladys Fay Hon Scudamore died peacefully at the age of 97, at her care home in Palos Verdes, California, April 28, 2016. Gladys was born on October 23, 1918 to Carol Edith Simpson Hon and Albert Lester Hon of Burnt Prairie, Illinois.
She grew up in the enriching and traditional environment of the beautiful rolling Illinois farmlands, the middle child with four siblings. After graduation from Burnt Prairie High School, Gladys moved to Evansville, Indiana to attend business college and graduated with honors. Upon returning to southern Illinois,she married her high school sweetheart, William Earl Scudamore in 1941. Their only child, Douglas Earl Scudamore, was born in 1943. After several years of farming around Fairfield and Carmi, the Scudamore family moved to Kentucky in 1959, where they started their own successful business, Superior Oil Services. Upon selling the business in 1987, Gladys and Earl returned “home”, and settled in Carmi, where Gladys lived until 2011, when she joined her son and daughter-in-law in California.
Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Scudamore; son, Doug Scudamore; and siblings, Arnold Hon, Albert Hon, Helen Scudamore, and Nola Johnson.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Jo Scudamore; grandchildren, David Scudamore (Jennifer Reich); and Alisa Scudamore (Marcus Malinosky); and great grandchildren, Harrison, Lilia & Jonas Scudamore; and Karis & Anika Malinosky.
A multitude of grandchild memories include the cookie jar that was always full at Grandma's, and no rule about how many times you went back; picking beans, and strawberries, and peaches from a “garden” that seemed like a whole farm to a suburban kid; dozens of dishes to choose from at every meal; and Grandma happily enjoying sushi at the age of 83. Ironically known as “Big Grandma” to her great grandchildren, Gladys will be remembered for her diminutive stature, sweet smile, generous nature, keen mind, apple pies, peach cobbler, and romantic stories of riding her horse to Mt. Pleasant School each morning after doing farm chores
A celebration of Gladys' life will be held in Carmi at a future date. The Stendeback Family Funeral Home in Carmi is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at stendebackfamilyfuneralhome.com