- Date Of Birth: March 25, 1939
- Date Of Death: August 09, 2024
- State: Michigan
Gladys Arlene (Bowers) Numerick came into the world on March 25, 1939 in Saginaw, Michigan, the 9th of 12 children. She arrived earlier than expected but with the love and care of a devoted mama, she thrived. She was born at the end of the Great Depression and those hardships marked her early years. She left school early to marry. During that period, she had four sons, Philip, Alva Lee, Terry Joe, and Kirk. That period in her life was marked with great difficulty and suffering, but through it all, she persevered. While the first half of her life was filled with rough patches and setbacks, with God’s grace, she was able to overcome the hardships that came her way.
In 1963, she married Robert Numerick, and they went on to have three children, Eugene, Brian, and Dena. Through the instability of the 1970s, Gladys worked hard alongside Bob to care for their family. Despite the financial strain of those years, she and our dad would go out of their way to make Christmas special. It was her favorite time, and she was usually more excited than us kids for Christmas morning-often waking us up before the sun so we could open presents.
She trusted in the Lord and was thankful for the gift of her children. She often took us to church, always desiring to know the Lord more. As she grew older, her commitment to the Lord grew, and she knew Jesus loved her very much.
Gladys loved puttering in her flower garden, watching for butterflies or just looking at the natural wonders around her. A car ride rarely went by where she didn’t notice a bird or some other natural beauty.
She had a kind heart that often manifested in little trinkets and gifts for people she came into contact with and everyone enjoyed the sweet smile on her face. Her sweet spirit touched everyone she came into contact with, especially in her later years.
Gladys had a creative flair that came out at her sewing machine or while painting ceramics with her daughter. She would often spend hours working on the smallest detail of a doll dress or painting a vase with just the right combination of colors. Her eye for creativity was easily seen in everything she made from coloring pages to stuffed bears.
Gladys enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, and she was blessed to visit many of the states where we resided over the years, including Georgia, Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Colorado and New Mexico. She was always up for a fun adventure and so she got to see everything from a mine shaft to a candy factory to the mountains, and she loved it all.
Gladys’ life was marked with hardship, pain, and suffering but, ultimately, she overcame the difficulties to come to a place of peace and hope in her Savior. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much and was proud of each of them as they set out on their paths through life.
Gladys is survived by her children, Philip Johnson, Eugene (Beth) Numerick, Brian (Michelle) Numerick, Dena (Carlos) Lopez, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sisters, Virginia Lackenby, Maretta Teachworth, and Grace Rounds, and her brother, Cecil Bowers. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, Delia Turner and Cecil Bowers, her husband, Robert Numerick, sons, Alva Lee Johnson, Terry Joe Ferraro, and Kirk Rose, granddaughter, Roxanne Johnson, and siblings, Robert Bowers, Edna VanNewkirk, Bessie VanRiper, Barbara Ferraro, Carl Bowers, George Bowers, and Don Bowers.
