Gladys Elizabeth Buhrow, 83, a longtime Hamilton community resident, passed away on Thursday, December 19, 2013 at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett.
Gladys was born on February 13, 1930 in Allen, Oklahoma, the daughter of James & Eveylean (Higdon) Prince. She was raised in several communities all over the country since her dad worked in the agriculture industry.
In 1950 she was united in marriage to James Russell, and they and their family traveled extensively as Jim served in the U.S. Navy.
On February 14, 1971 Gladys was married to Norman “Bill” Buhrow in Oak Harbor and they made their home in Marblemount for several years until moving to Hamilton in 1974 where they built a new home.
Gladys worked for several years as a waitress, working for Scotty’s and the Gateway Restaurants in Sedro-Woolley, and she also worked for the Stokley Cannery in Mount Vernon. For many years she was active in Special Olympics, and for over 20 years has volunteered her time helping at the Helping Hands Food Bank in Sedro-Woolley.
Gladys is survived by her daughters, Mary Ann Liljegren and her husband Richard of Nampa, ID, Sherry Rhodes of Loon Lake, WA, and Tami Olsen and her husband Dean of Arlington, WA; her son, Steven Russell of Marblemount, and her foster daughter, Cynthia Ericksen of Arlington; sisters, Doris Holt, Bessie Fram, Gloria Williams, and Loria McClendon; brothers, James, Charles and Douglas Prince; 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her son, Larry Russell; granddaughter, Kimberly Russell; great-grandson, Jordan Olsen; brother, Delbert Prince and sisters, Dorothy Holland & Betty Hawkins.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Helping Hands Food Bank in Sedro-Woolley or to Special Olympics.
A Celebration of Gladys’ Life will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley. Private inurnment will be at the Hamilton Cemetery.
