Gladys Jenkins

Gladys Lee, 94, a resident of Albuquerque, NM, passed away Sunday, June 3, 2012. She was born Gladys Lee Ellison in 1917 in Newport, Arkansas. Gladys was the forth of five children born to Clarence Edgar Ellison & Docia Ann Bowman. Her husband, Roy M. Jenkins, brothers, Cecil, Franklin Emmit, and Clarence Everett, sister, Hilda Andrews and grandson, David L. Haaland preceded her in death. She is survived by one son, Gerald R. and wife, Lois A. Jenkins of Albuquerque; two daughters, Janice D. Vickers and Judith L. Mouser, both of Edgewood; eight grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Gladys grew up in Arkansas and worked in California and became a 'Harvey Girl' at Fred Harvey's La Posada Restaurant & Hotel ( http://harvey.library.arizona.edu/finding_aid/1az/13/welcome.html ) in Winslow, Arizona, where she met and married Roy M. Jenkins in 1940. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, then to Los Angeles, California, before moving back to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1950. Gladys joined Eastern Star with several of her friends and was proud of passing the proficiency. She loved fishing and camping with family and was a diehard Lobos fan. She had a lighthearted wit and was easy to talk to. A good cook, she continuously experimented with food dishes and would watch, waiting until someone approved the newly created item before she would eat hers.Gladys studied many techniques while learning to paint pictures and spent many years working with the Women's Club at the Yucca Art Gallery ( http://www.yuccaartgallery.com /) in Old Town. Gladys was very creative and began cutting slabs of New Mexico Candy Rock upon which she would paint animals, outdoor scenes, children, etc. These she would mount on a small tripod, or in a small picture frame, long before another artist patented the process. She continued painting until she lost her eyesight to Macular Degeneration.Her family and friends dearly love Gladys and she will be missed by all of us. Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the Chester T. French Memorial Mausoleum Chapel at Sunset Memorial Park 924 Menaul Blvd NE. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions may be made in Gladys' memory to your favorite charity.