Gladys Sill

Gladys O. Sill, 93, of Castleford, died Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at River Rock Assisted Living with her daughters at her side.

She was born in a prove-up shack in the Lucerne area Northwest of Buhl, Idaho, to C.G. Bayless and Minnie Lou Johnson Bayless. She graduated from Buhl High School and married Jim Strawser. They had one child, Nancy. Their early years were spent working for Chet Brackett as cowboys at Three Creek and Roseworth, later farming in Castleford and Buhl. They were later divorced.

Gladys went to work for C.C. Anderson department store, advancing from sales clerk to manager and head buyer in the ladies ready-to-wear department. She married Lawrence Sill on Feb. 22, 1947. They farmed and ranched in Castleford, where they adopted their daughter, Lorie. Later they moved to Roseworth. When the ranch became too much for them to handle they moved back to a farm in Castleford. They retired from there and moved to Yuma, AZ, coming to Idaho for a few months each summer. When Lawrence passed away, Gladys moved to a home in Castleford to be near to her daughters.

Gladys was a remarkable woman. As a farm/ranch wife she worked side by side with her husband doing the work usually done by men. She drove tractor and truck, worked the cattle better than some cowboys, raised a big garden, preserved the fruits and vegetables and cooked for the hired help. She kept the books and filed the taxes. When Lorie was old enough for 4H, Gladys formed a club and taught many children home skills as well as animal care. She seldom missed a 4H summer camp. She loved to travel. In order to pay for a ticket to visit Nancy and family in Germany, she bought a station wagon and bussed the Roseworth kids to school in Castleford, working in a restaurant during the day. She demonstrated cooking for Idaho Power programs, held local and state offices in various clubs and charities such as the American Cancer Society. She and Lawrence were very active in the Soil Conservation District, lobbying politicians and obtaining funding for improvements of the irrigation system that brings water from Cedar Creek Reservoir to the Roseworth Tract. Before retiring from the farm, they spent many winters in Mexico, generally with a group of friends. After retiring, they settled permanently in Yuma where Gladys took up china painting. She lobbied hard and got the Arizona State Fair to classify china painting as art and was justly proud of all the blue ribbons she won. She organized a club in Yuma, hiring a visiting teacher each year to improve the membership skills. They started a state china painting convention which is held each year in Mesa.

Gladys instilled in her daughters a strong work ethic and the need to improve their communities. Survivors include her daughters, Nancy Strawser Barron (Jim), Lorie Sill Bower, grandchildren, Patricia Barron Shifflett (Jeff) and Byron Barron (Marina) all of Georgia, Jane Barron van Maldeghem (Paul) of Ohio, Dale Bower Castleford, Gail Bower, Dan Bower (Chelsie), Geanna Bower Wiebe (Donovan), Larry Joe Bower, Vern Bower and Mike Bower all of Buhl, 21 great-grandchildren plus one due in July, special friends Barbara Grover and Merle Rowe. An added thank you to the staff of River Rock Assisted Living where she lived the last four years, especially to Dee, Darlene and Adele.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Farmer Funeral Chapel in Buhl. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 14th. Interment will be in West End Cemetery.

For those who desire contributions may be made to the Castleford Quick Response Unit or any charity of choice.