Services for Gladys Thompson Connel, 99, of Ada are 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Ada First Free Will Baptist Church, Revs. David Sutton and Dean Stone, along with her grandsons, Justin and Jarrod Presley will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery.
Mrs. Connel passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at an assisted living center. She was born July 17, 1917 at Guin, AL to John and Della Barker Chaffin. She attended elementary school at Guin, AL. She and her family moved to this area in 1927 and she attended school at Union Valley and Stonewall.
She married Dow Thompson November 25, 1933 at Union Valley. She and her husband owned and operated a grocery store for years, and later a drive-in- café. In 1960, she went to work at Valley View Regional Hospital in the Dietary Department, and worked there for 23 years. Dow preceded her in death June 11, 1981. She later married Hershel Connel February 13, 1985. He preceded her in death July 28, 1999. Mrs. Connel was baptized in 1941, and was a longtime member of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Ada.
Survivors include a son, Johnny Thompson and wife Evelyn of Ada; a daughter, Janice Presley and her husband James of Ada; a brother, Bradford Chaffin of Jonesboro, GA; a step-daughter, Linda Lyttle of Houston, TX; three grandsons, Justin Presley and wife Heather and Jarrod Presley and wife Calli, all of Ada, and Sean Thompson and wife Cynthia of Waddell, AZ; five great-grandchildren, Parker Presley, Faith Presley, Ethan Presley, Emma Presley and Hayden Presley; one step-granddaughter, Marta Tang; one step-grandson, Edward ”Blane” Lyttle; and five step-great-grandchildren, Zachary Tang, Kaylee Tang, Hannah Tang, Jonathon Lyttle and Christopher Lyttle.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Dow Thompson and Hershel Connel; a daughter, Naomi Allison; a son, Jim Thompson; a brother, Braxton Chaffin; and a step-son, Paul Connel.
Bearers will be family members and a long-time friend, Terry Clark.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
