Gladys "Austin" Leola Bauermeister

Passed peacefully in her sleep at the age of 83 while surrounded by her loving family. She was born Feb. 1, 1926 in Ericson, Nebraska and died Sept. 7, 2009 in Lakewood, Wa after a lengthy illness. Gladys grew up and attended school in and around Ericson, Nebraska where she graduated from high school as salutatorian in 1942. In 1942 she relocated to Tacoma along with her parents Forrest & Ona Austin. While living in Seattle she briefly worked at City Dye Works in payroll & as a clerk then moved on to Brehms Delicatessen where she was eventually promoted to manager at their Pine St. Market. At 19 she met her first husband, Forrest Harold Hale when she then moved from Seattle back to Tacoma where she worked for a month as a ship fitter’s helper at Todd-Pacific Shipyards before marrying. After the war ended her husband left the navy and they relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana where she helped her husband in his photography studio taking, printing & retouching photos. Her first child, Theresa (Tarisa Amber Gaelin) was born there. Since living wasn’t easy on a photographer’s income her husband joined the Marines. She then returned to Tacoma where she lived with her parents before moving to San Diego where her husband was stationed. But she divorced soon after & returned to Tacoma where she took a secretarial course. Her first job was at a finance co. but she was soon hired at Madigan Army Hosp. where she retired after 15 yrs. of service. While at Madigan she often welcomed soldiers, away from their homes, into her own for holiday dinners. In 1956 she met and married her second husband Charles Bryant Bauermeister. Together they designed and built their first home in Lakewood and had three children Rebecca Lynn (Bauermeister) Swain, Melodie Ann Bauermeister and Daniel Weiland Bauermeister. She is survived by not only her four children but by three grandchildren Michael John McCrary, Heather Marie Jackson and Kirsten Renee Bauermeister; two great grandchildren Bradley Ayden Jackson and Madison Lynn Lynke and by a large extended family. She is also survived by many friends who will miss her deeply.. She had several life long activities and interests including bowling in several leagues through out Tacoma as well as being an avid attendee of the Tacoma Tigers/Rainiers & follower of the Mariners. She was also involved in charity activities with Epsilon Sigma Alpha, family outings that included camping & clam digging and most of all annual summer vacations to visit her sister’s family & lakefront property in Kalispell, Montana. She also skied and introduced her three youngest children to the slopes of Mt. Rainier. Throughout her life she was a consummate reader but her real love was in writing and even attended a writing seminar conducted by Ann Rule. Gladys was a budding Chef and thoroughly enjoyed the fine art of dining. Before she passed Gladys wanted to acknowledge the friendship of her long time friend Mary Malone as well as all the support and help she received from Connie Serr of St. Claire’s Hosp.,, Candy Weedeman of DaVita Dialysis Center of Lakewood and Franciscan Hospice. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hosp., Franciscan Hospice and the Kidney Foundation. There will be a Celebration of Life Potluck Sept. 20th at 1pm at 5230 112th St. SW Bldg. B, Lakewood, Wa.