Gladys (Sherrell) McDonald, age 97, of Peru, Illinois, formerly of Waynesville, Missouri, died Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 1:15 a.m. at Illinois Valley Community Hospital. She was born near Iberia, Missouri on June 15, 1909, a daughter of the late Isaac and Livonia (Rowden) Sherrell. On August 5, 1929 in Venice, Illinois, she was married to Gay William McDonald, who preceded her in death on December 7, 1993.

Gladys was a loving and caring mother. She worked as an Electrocardiograph Technician at Fort Leonard Wood Hospital for over 30 years. She was a charter member and Sunday school teacher at Westside Baptist Church in Waynesville, Missouri. She loved to work in her garden and was a member of the Green Thumb Garden Club for 50 years. She enjoyed cooking, quilting and entertaining family and friends. She was actively involved in the Brays Cemetery Association. She and her husband farmed in the Iberia community for 20 years before moving to a farm in Waynesville in 1960 where they continued farming for another 30 years.

Those who survive her include: one daughter, Shirley Ford of Oglesby, Illinois; three grandchildren, Guy Ford, Jr. and wife Lori of Ottawa, Illinois, Kevin Ford and wife Tiffany of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and Carrie Danekas and husband Paul of Oglesby, Illinois and seven great grandchildren, Christopher and Courtney Ford, Kayla and Cassie Danekas and Charissa, Karita and Blake Ford.

Her son-in-law, Guy Ford, Sr. and three brothers, Clarence Sherrell of Meta, Missouri, James Sherrell of Bellville, Illinois and Earl Sherrell of Iberia, Missouri, also preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. with services immediately following at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, at Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia, Missouri. Interment will be in Brays Cemetery near Iberia.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Brays Cemetery Fund.