Gladys Elaine Cunningham

Gladys Elaine Reese Cunningham was born September 21, 1927 at Mountain View, Missouri to Fred Reese and Alma Elizabeth Beck Reese. Gladys went to her Heavenly home Saturday morning October 14, 2017 making her age 90 years 23 days.

Gladys was united in marriage to Oscar Benjamin Cunningham January 3, 1946. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before Oscar’s death in 2011. They were blessed with three children Dewayne, Barbara and Joyce.

Gladys attended school and graduated from Birch Tree and later taught in rural schools until she met the loved of her life Oscar Cunningham.

Oscar and Gladys served the Lord for many years starting in 1956 they began serving the Lord together in Home Missions in Ava, Missouri, American Sunday School Missions for many years, holding Revivals and teaching bible schools through out Missouri. Wherever Oscar went to serve Gladys was by his side doing whatever needed to be done.

The Cunningham’s owned and operated Camp J-O-Y (Jesus Others and You) Bible Camp for many years. When their health began to decline they moved to Springfield. After many years of traveling Gladys was happy to be near her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed putting puzzles together, keeping up with family genealogy, and keeping in contact with her many friends.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Oscar, her parents Fred and Alma Reese, two sisters, Nadine Payne, Pauline Carr, one brother Floyd (Bill) Reese.

She is survived by her three children, Dewayne Cunningham and wife Beverly of Greenfield, Missouri, Barbara Chapman and husband Dan of Ozark, Missouri and Joyce Crumpley and husband Bill of Springfield, Missouri, two sisters, Vera Shandy and Nita Achenbach both of Marshfield, Missouri. Gladys is also survived by 16 grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren, a host of neices, nephews and other beloved family members.