Obituary of Gladys Marie McCosker
Gladys Marie McCosker “Nanny” (81) resident of St. Maries, ID passed away at her home on December 27, 2023. She was born to William and Sophia Pittman on June 22, 1942, in Waycross, GA. Gladys grew up in Waycross, and left school in the 8th grade to go to work, spending time at odd jobs and in a shoe factory.
Gladys married and had her children. In 1974, she and her family moved to Kellogg and spent a short amount of time there before returning to Georgia. In 1979, Gladys moved to St. Maries, ID making the small town and community her forever home. Gladys was a staple in most of the local restaurants. She was a waitress at Buds, Minervas, and Serv-A-Burger to name a few. Over the years, Gladys was a mother raising her children, she then married LeRoy McCosker. Later in her life she raised her two grandchildren Cassie and Mikayla Morris as her own. She even earned an award through Head Start for “Parent of the Year”, acknowledging her volunteer work at the school, and the time invested in raising her grandchildren. Gladys also provided temporary foster home care for those who needed emergency respite care.
A social butterfly, Gladys enjoyed people and socializing. She was a storyteller, and her friends and family loved listening to her stories, even if they had heard them before. She also enjoyed huckleberry picking, gardening, fishing, canning, and baking. The holidays were made special by the meals prepared by her and gatherings planned by her. Yahtzee was also a love of Gladys’; she could spend hours and hours playing and challenging her friends and family. Wii bowling was a sport she liked to play with her family, and she became darn good at it. When her health failed her and she wasn’t able to get out much, she spent the last few years of her life admiring the birds and squirrels that would come up on her porch that she would feed. Gladys was a one of a kind, who through the generations of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-greats’ has left a legacy of love, friendship, hard work, and compassion. She will never be forgotten.
Gladys is survived by her children Sara Robertson of Post Falls, ID and Sharon Brown of Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Donald McCosker of St. Maries, ID, and step-son Ronnie McCosker of Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Cassie Morris of Post Falls, ID and Mikayla Morris of Spokane, WA; siblings Skipper Russell of Starbuck, WA, Stephanie Rumley for Fort Valley, GA, Phyllis (Herb) Gassett of Wales, FL, Wanis (Rudy) Nichols of Hobokon, GA, and Sylvia (Clint) Scales of Blacksher, GA; 13 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren with 1 more on the way; 11 nieces; and 8 nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents and her stepmother Bell Pittman; children Rosie Morris, Michael Morris, Catherine “Kitty” Greek, Michael McCosker, and David McCosker; and brother Stephen Russell; and sister Terry Pittman.
A Memorial Service will be on February 25, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Elks Lodge with a potluck gathering of family and friends to follow.
