The obituary, shown below, was copied from
https://www.debaptiste.com/obituary/gladys-boyer
(it may or may not still be available there)
Gladys Holliday Boyer
April 19, 1927 - January 7, 2021
Gladys Holliday was born on April 19, 1927 in West Chester, Pennsylvania to the late John Thomas Holliday and Alice Hazzard Holliday. She was the ninth child in a family of 10. Her early years were spent on the family farm in Rosedale, Pennsylvania. However, by the age of five, both of her parents were deceased, and the children were dispersed into the community. Her older siblings went to work, but the younger children were sent into the local Aid Society (foster care). Gladys spent the next 13 years of her life in foster care, some of that time with the Driggins family and the remainder with the Sinclair family both from Kennett Square. Despite her family and social struggles, Gladys was able to attend school and eventually graduated from the Kennett Consolidated High School. At this point she was working for several prominent families in the Wilmington Delaware area.
Over the next three years she met and married the love of her life, Joseph Boyer. They were married in September 1948 and began a family. They were blessed with three sons and 1 daughter. Their marriage lasted for 64 years all of which they lived in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Gladys was the quintessential wife and mother who supported an extremely hard-working husband and a band of exceptionally active children. For the next 20 years, there was no shortage of having to fix bruised elbows, knees, and egos. She attended many concerts, band practices, wrestling matches, baseball games, and track meets. Gladys loved to cook and bake for her family. She was known for her special Iced Tea and homemade desserts. However, she was always faithful to prepare Joe’s fish fry on Fridays and large Sunday dinners which often included extended family and friends. Her holiday meals were always special and would not be complete without her famous homemade rolls and multiple deserts.
Gladys loved God and faithfully attended church. She met her husband at Elder Reid’s Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The congregation moved to Unionville, Pennsylvania and later became Christ Temple Church of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She along with her husband, Joe, became founding members of Emmanuel Temple Church. She served many years as the church secretary. Her responsibilities included taking the churches’ minutes, monitoring bank accounts, paying taxes, and sending out birthday cards to all church members. Gladys was dedicated to serving and spent many long nights reviewing the finances to ensure everything was accurate.
Family was especially important to Gladys. She helped organized several family reunions and made numerous visits to see extended family in New York City, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Saint Michaels, Maryland. In addition to these travels, Gladys and Joe enjoyed traveling by car and train across the country. They made several trips to Colorado, Florida, and their favorite spot Virginia Beach, Virginia where they would be seen holding hands while strolling the boardwalk.
Gladys eventually retired from her church duties. She then lost her beloved husband, Joe in December of 2012. As her health declined in 2017, she transitioned to Twin Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Grove, Pennsylvania.
She graduated to be with her Lord and Savior on January 7th, 2021, at the blessed age of 93. She is survived by her sons: Joseph David and wife Martha of Valley Township, Pennsylvania; John Granville and wife D.D. of New Castle, Delaware; Kevin Thomas and wife Sharon of West Grove, Pennsylvania; and her daughter Gladys Michele and fiancé Paul of Lawrenceville, Georgia. She was blessed with 12 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren, and 1 great, great-grandchild. She is also survived by 1 sister, Mary Fields of Wilmington, Delaware, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and an adoring church family. She will be greatly missed and will always be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and love for all. We take comfort in knowing that those in Christ who love the Lord will see her again.