 MCCAN, GLADYS L. Gladys Laura McCan, 88, retired Assistant Director of Nursing - Operating Room at Lovelace- Bataan Medical Center, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2014. Gladys Laura Tillapaugh was born on June 29, 1925 to Leo Jacob and Laura Eliza Tillapaugh in Carlisle, NY. The eighth child in what would grow to be a family with twelve children, Gladys had many shoulders to stand on as she grew up on the family's dairy farm in up-state New York. Active in 4-H, Gladys earned national recognition for her gardening skills during high school. A good student and athlete, playing basketball, softball and field hockey, Gladys graduated from Cobleskill High School in 1943 and Russell Sage College of Nursing, Schenectady, NY in 1946. After college, she worked in the operating room at Albany Hospital. In 1947, Gladys traveled westward on a road trip to accept a job at the Los Angeles VA Hospital. On this trip, Gladys Tillapaugh met Clint McCan in Deming, NM. In the midst of a blizzard, they were married in Carlisle, NY on January 1, 1949 with local newspapers announcing their marriage - Nurse Marries Westerner. Gladys and Clint made their home in Deming, NM. Moving to Albuquerque in 1954, Gladys was a stay-at-home mom while Clint worked at the power plant and earned his degree in electrical engineering at UNM. In 1958, Gladys began her thirty-year nursing career as a registered nurse at Bataan Memorial Methodist Hospital. Gladys started as an OR scrub nurse and closed her career in 1988 as Assistant Director of Nursing - Operating Room, Lovelace - Bataan Medical Center. Gladys and Clint enjoyed traveling together. Their travels took them throughout the U.S.A., Mexico, Canada, many European countries, and across Russia to Mongolia and China. Avid UNM basketball fans, they seldom missed a game. Gladys continued her love for gardening; vegetables and roses were her specialty. Gladys Laura McCan, 88, passed away peacefully having lived an active and happy life. Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Clint McCan, Gladys is survived by two sisters, Reba Visscher (Waverly, NY) and Lois (David) Beach (Newfield, NY); two children, Pamela (Lee) Lauderback (Fort Collins, CO) and Dale (Shirley) McCan (Corrales, NM); four grandchildren, Brooke and Michael Lauderback (Fort Collins, CO), Valerie (Rob) Hansen (Kirkland, WA), Brice McCan (Rio Rancho, NM); great-grandson Bailey Hansen (Kirkland, WA); and many nieces and nephews. A memorial to celebrate Gladys' life will be held on Monday, March 17 at 10:00 AM at the Daniel's Family Funeral Chapel, 2400 Southern Blvd. S.E., Rio Rancho, NM with Reverend Jamie Martinez officiating. Burial will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting a memorial in Gladys' name to National Jewish Health (1-303-728-6560) or to www.nationaljewish.org Please indicate it as a gift in memory of Gladys McCan with acknowledgement to Pam McCan Lauderback, 5058 Westridge Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80526. To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Daniels Family Funeral Services 2400 Southern Blvd Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-891-9192
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