Gladys L. Meek

Gladys Lela (Smith) Meek, 83, of Lyons, KS, passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at Rice County District Hospital, Lyons. She was the Rice County Deputy Register of Deeds in 1970 and became Rice County Register of Deeds in 1973, an office she held until 2001.

Gladys was born on December 9, 1932, in McPherson, KS, the daughter of Ray A. and Mildred H. (Rump) Smith. She grew up on a farm 3 ¼ miles north of Inman, KS. She graduated from Inman High School. She also graduated from School of Airline Training in Omaha, NE. On June 29, 1952, Gladys was united in marriage to Luther E. “Gene” Meek at Groveland Christian Church.

She was a member of Groveland Christian Church, Christian Women’s Fellowship Love Group in Lyons, and International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials & Treasurers. She was a past President of Kansas Register of Deeds Association in 1977 and former elder and deacon of First Christian Church in Lyons. She was a volunteer for Rice County Hospice and Rice County Council on Aging. She was an avid traveler and toured all 50 States of the Union, approximately 60 different countries, and all seven continents.

Survivors include: husband, Gene of the home; sons, Dallas Meek (Caroline) of Frankfort, KY and Gary Meek (Doris) of Independence, MO; daughter, Lori Viramontez (Dave) of Lyons, KS; brothers, Howard Smith (Vivian) of McPherson, KS and twin brother, Glen Smith of Inman, KS; sister, Helen Regehr of Inman, KS; eight grandchildren, Derek Viramontez of Lyons, KS, Tyler Viramontez (Emily) of Wichita, KS, Andrew Meek (Taryn) of Blue Springs, MO, Priscilla Meek, Ethan Meek, Stephen Meek, Caleb Meek, and Esther Meek, all of Independence, MO; two great-granddaughters, Reagan Rose Viramontez and Adelyn Grace Viramontez, both of Wichita, KS.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Ray and Mildred Smith; and brother, John Smith.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at First Christian Church, McPherson with Rev. Charles Kaufmann officiating. Burial will follow at North Inman Cemetery. Visitation is from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday, Oct. 17, at Stockham Family Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Memorial donations may be given to Water for Life in Haita in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Gladys L. Meek please visit our Sympathy Store.