Obituary of Hazel Mae Gladney

Hazel Mae Barnes McKay Gladney was born in Lincoln County on October 1, 1932, to Everett and Pauline Barnes. She passed on to her eternal reward on February 25, 2025, at Mercy Hospital Lincoln in Troy, MO. She was a 1950 graduate of Elsberry High School and a 1980 graduate of Pike-Lincoln Technical School where she earned a LPN. The early years of her adult life were spent as a mother, working various jobs, and serving many churches throughout Missouri as a dedicated pastor’s wife. In the late 1960s, Hazel and her family returned to Elsberry to begin a new chapter in their lives. Hazel worked as a nurse’s aide, school bus driver, retail clerk, restaurant cook, housekeeper, and other roles, many at the same time, to support her family. She soon met the love of her life, Forrest Gladney, and they were married on July 10, 1970. The two worked together tirelessly to blend their two families and build a home together. Soon after marrying, the family moved to Forrest’s farm, on Gladney Lane, and together they kept the family farm going. After caring for her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Hazel returned to nursing care, eventually being hired at what would become her professional “home” at Elsberry Health Care Center, where she worked for twenty-four years as a nurse’s aide, med tech, and eventually charge nurse. Hazel accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at a young age and was a member of New Hope Baptist Church for many years. There, she served as a Sunday School teacher and song leader, which was her favorite role. She loved to sing and was a master at encouraging others to share their talents. Hazel loved nursing, gardening, watching birds, cooking for family and friends, offering advice, working on jigsaw puzzles, and cheering on her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved music and passed that love to her family. She could sing a strong alto harmony with just about any song. She was preceded in death by her husband, Forrest, her parents, her three sisters: Doris, Shirley, and Mary, two brothers: Norman and Russell, a daughter, Jacqueline Jean McKay, her son Carl Eugene Gladney, his wife, Jan, grandson, Chip Gladney, and great grandson, Matthew Wojciehowski. Hazel is survived by her children, Judy Gladney Wilcox and husband Ben of Troy, Paula McKay Hoover and husband Carl of Texas, Doug McKay and wife Barbara of Troy, Dan McKay of Texas, Bill McKay of Wyoming, and LeRoy Gladney and his wife Patti of Troy, as well as 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Also cherishing memories of time with Hazel are family members: Marijo Lagemann and Vickie McKay. The family wishes to thank the staff of Elsberry Health Care Center for the outstanding care and love given for many years to Hazel and the members of the New Hope Baptist Church for your constant love and prayers. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Elsberry Health Care Center or New Hope Baptist Church. The family will receive visitors Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the Carter Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at New Hope Baptist Church at 10:00 am, with burial to follow at Elsberry City Cemetery.