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Friends we will miss Gladys G. Morris, 1928-2021. Gladys Geraldine (Swope) Morris died June 29. Born on March 4, 1928, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Gladys was a model and fashion designer, and she sewed her own clothes. Dressed in her own gowns and dresses, Gladys could have appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine. She was that beautiful and her work as a seamstress was that good. Put another way, Gladys would have been a top contestant on Project Runway, had that show existed in the 1940s. Her long legs and elegance caught the eye of John Albert Morris Jr., a decorated combat veteran and paratrooper. She married Morris on December 21, 1950 in Winston Salem NC. Gladys supported her husband in his early career, as he went on to become an Army doctor with the rank of colonel, and later, a medical school professor. In every respect, Gladys was as much a part of the Greatest Generation as was her husband. When Gladys found herself a young single mother, she found her true calling — motherhood. She worked several jobs, mostly in sales, to support her two young children, Michael and Shannon. They lacked for nothing. Absolutely nothing. She sewed Shannon's pretty dresses. Michael played golf at a competitive level and won a college scholarship. Shannon, an equestrian, rode in the same stable as a future Olympic silver medalist. Later in life, Gladys loved good food, especially sweets, and enjoyed socializing with her friends. Smart, informed, and opinionated, she enjoyed a good argument. It's no wonder her son became an attorney! Gladys remained elegant and stylish to her dying day. Gladys is survived by her son, Michael Morris, managing partner at Minyard Morris, and her daughter, Shannon Morris, a physical therapist, wellness expert, and cyclist. She is also survived by granddaughters, Sara Forte and Cydney Edwards, and grandsons, Ryan and Austin Morris, great grandchildren, Curran and Cleo Forte, and Ozzie Edwards. The members of her extended family brought Gladys her greatest joy in later years. Gloria Lucy Crestani, December 28, 1921 - June 17, 2021. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Gloria passed away peacefully at her daughter's home following a brief period with dementia. She was the youngest of 12 children born in Gary, Indiana to Italian immigrants. Early in her childhood, the family relocated to Highland Park, Illinois where her mother ran a boarding house during the Great Depression. In 1943, at age 21, Gloria and her parents relocated to Fontana, California, where she resided for over 70 years. She became an employee of Kaiser Steel and a parishioner of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. During WWII, an Italian prisoner of war camp was established in San Bernardino. While visiting the camp, Gloria met her future husband, Ampelio Crestani. When the war ended, she traveled to Galzignano, Italy, a small town near Venice, where they married on October 31, 1946. After a year, they returned to California. Gloria continued her employment with Kaiser Steel in payroll and data processing until 1962. She was particularly fond of the relationships she established while working and grateful for the opportunity Kaiser Steel gave her husband for employment through retirement. Being from a large Italian family, Gloria greatly enjoyed time spent with family and friends gathering around meals and celebrations. She devoted her life to supporting her loved ones and providing help whenever needed. Gloria enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling, card playing, reading and quilting. Travel was a big part of her life which included family visits to Italy and France, along with vacationing to other countries. Even after her husband passed in 2000, Gloria remained active in her lifestyle and would often be found making pasta, playing bingo or planning casino trips. In 2017, she moved to Sun Lakes to be closer to her daughter. Gloria's positive outlook and sense of humor sustained her throughout life and always made her a joy to be around. She is fondly remembered for her loving hospitality, devotion to family and friends, and the beautiful values she lived by. Her spirit lives on through the legacy she leaves and in the people she touched during her lifetime. She is survived by her daughter: Diana Wee, three grandchildren: Jennifer Paugh, Jim Wee, and Steven Wee, and four great-grandchildren: Jacob Paugh, RJ Wee, Kainoa Wee, and Brody Wee. Services will be held at Green Acres Memorial Chapel in Bloomington, CA. Submit your Friends we will miss to sunlakesnews@yahoo.com | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | AUGUST 2021 | 69

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