Gladys Shay

Gladys Shay died Monday, Oct. 26, of natural causes.

Gladys Ella Van was born June, 13, 1928, at the family home in Columbia Falls to George and Ella (Lewis) Van.  She graduated from Flathead High School in 1946.

Gladys’s journalism career started in high school where she worked on the school newspaper and also for the Kalispell Times. Shortly after graduation, she was hired as the first employee at the Hungry Horse News where she worked until the mid-1970s. Gladys covered all types of news and loved to tell the story of informing Mel Ruder he had won a Pulitzer Prize for their work covering the catastrophic 1964 floods. She later returned to writing the “Gabbing with Gigi” column and wrote publicity for numerous organizations in the community. Being a reporter for more than 70 years was one of Gladys’ most prized accomplishments.

Gladys was a candy striper at Kalispell Hospital during World War II. She was also active in band and had a life-long love of music, especially bag pipes.

She married George “Al” Shay in 1947. They divorced in 1976. She lived most of her life “a mile away” from her birth place in the home she designed and they built. They owned and operated the Columbia Falls Taxi Service and Gladys used her chauffeur’s license to deliver the Star mail route from Columbia Heights to Coram. They also owned and operated Columbia Falls Transfer Company. 

While raising her six children, Gladys was involved in all facets of Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts and worked with their school organizations, including once serving as the “pregnant president of the PTA.” She was known to her grandchildren as “Gigi” and enjoyed playing cards with them but insisted they had to play by her rules.

She loved the mountains and trees and specifically the North Fork where her favorite places were Great Northern Flats, Big Creek and Hornet Mountain. Gladys led a family competition to find the first wildflowers each year. All the kids and grandkids were encouraged to look for flowers but only “Mother Nature” was allowed to find the first buttercups and pussy willows.

Gladys was a 68-year member of the Order of Eastern Star and served in many capacities for the organization. While Worthy Matron of Estella Pomeroy Chapter she established the Columbia Falls Rainbow Assembly for Girls.

She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and belonged to Beulah Circle at Columbia Falls United Methodist Church.

Gladys was a member of Lions Club International and was the first female president of the Columbia Falls club. She also enjoyed membership with Kalispell Lions. She was a life member of VFW Auxiliary and spent many years as an active  member of the Auxiliary to William Murphy Post 5650 in Columbia Falls.  

In more recent years she liked wearing her red baseball cap to lunch with the Red Hats of Columbia Falls. She was an ardent supporter of the Montana Veterans’ Home and served on its foundation board. Gladys was a member of North Valley Senior Center, having served as its president and also playing thousands of games of pinochle there.

Gladys had skin cancer including on her face which she joked was a product of her curiosity and “reporter’s nose.” She never hesitated to tell anyone with a suspicious spot to “get it checked.”

Gladys had macular degeneration and although losing her sight was devastating, she compensated and persevered, making adjustments so it did not slow her down and she was able to finish her life living independently.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Gertrude Van. Her grandsons Russell Schulte and Joel Atkinson and great-grandson Cole Sandefer also preceded her in death.

Survivors include: Her brothers, George Ted Van and his children and grandchildren and John and his wife Florine Van and their children and grandchildren. Her children and their families: Gail and Mitch Linne; Jan and Jerry Townsend; Howard and Connie Shay, Laurie Shay; Tim and Gwen Shay, and Becky Shay. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, a great-grandchild expected in November and a family cat that amused her. Also surviving her are numerous cousins and good friends.

Memorials may be made to Columbia Falls United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 27, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.