Gladys Cordelia Hillis, daughter of the late James Edward Cochran and Hazel Odessa Moore, departed this life on January 26, 2022, at Southeast Health in Dexter, Missouri, at the age of 80 years.
Gladys was born on February 8, 1941, in the town of Cordele in Crisp County, Georgia. She lived many of her childhood years in Savannah, Georgia where she attended Savannah High School. Later she would attend Draughons Junior College.
On June 11, 1969, she was united in marriage to Bruce R Hillis in Americus, Georgia, and had three sons, J Darren Hillis born in Americus and Keith Edward Hillis and Kevin Franklin Hillis born in Dallas, Texas. After several years in Texas Gladys moved to Dexter, Missouri, where all three sons graduated Dexter High School.
Gladys was an avid bowler and loved spending time with friends bowling in leagues in Dexter and Sikeston, Missouri. She served many years as a volunteer and board member of the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center in Sikeston, Missouri. In 2012 Gladys retired after 16 years of service from the Stoddard County Juvenile Detention Center.
Gladys enjoyed spending time watching her children and grandchildren in their school activities and loved cheering at their sporting events. Gladys had great compassion for animals and never met a stray cat or dog that wasn’t taken in and given love, food and shelter.
She is survived by sons, Darren Hillis of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Keith Hillis of Dexter, Missouri, and Kevin Hillis and his wife Erin of Springfield, Missouri, by four grandchildren, Rhylan Grace Hillis, Haden Gray Hillis, Kylie Danae McBride, and Kinsley Aileen Hillis, two great grandchildren, many cousins, and friends.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by one sister, Shirley Beasley of Stone Mountain, Georgia and one brother Ronny Beckworth of Social Circle, Georgia and one special friend, Rob Henley of Sikeston, Missouri.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Monday, January 31, 2022, from 4:00 pm until 6:00pm.
A graveside funeral service will be conducted in Cordele, Georgia at a later date where Gladys will be laid to rest next to her mother in the Arabi-Antioch Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, 300 Floyd Drive, Sikeston, Missouri 63801.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
