On Friday, March 12 ^th , Gladys Ferris passed away peacefully, in her home, with daughter Judy by her side. As anyone acquainted with our loved one would know, this was just as she would have wanted (demanded)!

Gladys was born in Randolph, VT, February 15, 1930 to John and Laura (Turner) Williams, the oldest of three children. In 1948, she graduated from South Royalton School and went to work at National Life in Barre, VT. Gladys met the love of her life, John (Bud) Eugene Ferris, on a double date with her sister Helen. They married on June 10, 1953, before he left to serve in the Korean conflict. Bud was two years her junior, so mother-in-law Hattie Ferris, needed to sign paperwork to allow them to wed. This story was shared many times and over their years together (nearly 60) provided much humor to the four children that came from their union.

In 1958 Gladys and Bud purchased her childhood home on Pleasant Street. As her family grew, she chose to provide care to many South Royalton children, who spent endless days playing across the street from the Grain Mill. In 1969, when "her kids" were of school age, she went to work as assistant clerk for the town of Royalton.

Gladys was elected Town Clerk in 1970, a position she held for 23 years. Upon her retirement Esther Swift wrote, Gladys' "professional service has been of an unqualified nature…. lawyers and other people who need to consult town records have been un-stinting in their praise of the quality of record keeping which she has brought to the town…. under her management, the oldest records have been scrupulously conserved, repaired and restored so they will be available for many years to come".  Bear with this author, one more quote, "Above and beyond good service, Gladys Ferris has provided the humanity that too often is lacking in public office".

It wasn't only her professional life that she applied this humanity to – her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and family all appreciated Gladys' loving directness . The door to the Ferris House was open to all at any time they needed it, even when the original homestead was lost to a fire in 2014.  Her front door got a bit smaller, but the heart that lay within was always larger than life!!

This wonderfully fierce woman will live on in the hearts of the legacy she leaves behind. Her children: John "Bud" Ferris, Jr. (Sheila), Janis Lucas, Joel Ferris and Judy Ferris-Blossom (former husband Tim). Her grandchildren: Trevor Ferris (Sarah), Tiffany Ferris-Scherger (Tucker), Annie Keith (Brian), Jerry Lucas (Jackie), Tristen Lucas (Kelley), Chelsey Blossom-Abbott (Nate), and Cameron Blossom (Brooke).

Her family would like to give special thanks to friends for being there to support them through this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome in her memory to Bayada Hospice: PO Box 1590 Norwich, VT 05055.

A celebration of life will be planned for summer 2021. Knight Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences to her family may be expressed in an online guestbook found at www.knightfuneralhomes.com .