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Gladys M. Geary died Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at Applewood Living Center surrounded by family and friends. She was 82 years old. Born October 2, 1923 in Crowell, TX to Thomas Andrew and Maud W. (Stovall) Baxter, Gladys was a very competent and independent woman. She was very accomplished in many areas, a businesswoman, great homemaker, cook and mother. Very generous in helping others. Gladys married Richard Geary in November 1956. She was an antique show dealer doing shows from California to Texas. She moved to Longmont, CO in 1979, opened an antique shop in Lyons and was instrumental in starting the Lyons antique dealers association. She also had booths in Ft. Collins and Greeley flea markets. She joined the "Hello Dollies" doll club in 1990. She was an avid doll collector and was very knowledgeable in dolls. She was very active member and instrumental in getting the doll club to furnish 3 building in the Childs world of Tiny Town, CO. IN 1945 she gave birth to a "Mongoloid" Child (Downs syndrome). She was told to institutionalize him as he would never be able to sit up, or feed himself or do anything. This made her mad as she knew people train dogs so she knew she could "train" this boy. She raised him and taught him to feed himself, dress himself, to speak and understand much of what he was told. After several years at home with no school facilities available at that time she was forced to put him in an institution. They were amazed that he could speak and understand. In the 1960s she was an active member of the Albuquerque Association of retarded children. She implemented and ran a project to obtain a bus to transport the children. She got publicity and response from some eight states to collect "gift stars" and DPI code labels to exchange for the bus. She received hundreds of letters only addressed to "the retarded bus, Albuquerque, NM"; she exchanged one and a quarter million coupons for the bus. Her Down syndrome son died just before Christmas in 2004, while in a group home in Albuquerque. Gladys had a stroke in July 2005, and slowly deteriorated, moving to Applewood in November. She was preceded in death by one son, one infant daughter, her parents, and six siblings. She is survived by her husband, Richard L. Geary of Longmont, CO; twin sons, Michael Geary and wife, Rose and Timothy Geary and wife, Patricia, both of Las Vegas, NV; brother, Charley Baxter of Kerrville, TX; a sister, Rutha Shackelford of Dallas, TX; and grandchildren, Ivette, Andrew, Matthew, Tessa, Nathan, and Rachel; also numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday March 30, 2006 at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Funeral Service 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2006 at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel with David Bradshaw of LifeBridge Christian Church officiating. Interment 1:00 p.m. Friday at Shelter A, Ft. Logan National Cemetery Denver, CO. Contributions can be made to ARCA Foundation and sent in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to leave condolences for family.
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