March 6, 1929 — March 27, 2023 Gladys Ruth Pointer, 94, of Marshall, Mo., died Monday, March 27, 2023, at The Living Center in Marshall.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2023, at Campbell- Lewis Chapel in Marshall with the Rev. John Frazier officiating. Burial followed in Sunset Gardens Cemetery. Visitation was from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to New Salem Baptist Church or Miller’s Chapel Cemetery. An online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com.
Born March 6, 1929, in Longwood, Mo., she was the daughter of the late John Harrison Alexander and Nellie Frances Walk Alexander. Gladys Ruth’s mother died one month after she was born so her mom’s twin sister, Eunice Maude Alexander, helped raise her until she was 14 years old. Gladys Ruth spent her entire life being a country girl. During her teen years, when she wasn’t at school, she would do housework, laundry and cook. The field hands and family always enjoyed the delicious meals. On Oct. 27, 1949, she married William R. “Bill” Pointer, who preceded her in death on July 17, 2010. This country life still continued after marriage. It’s strongly believed that one of the reasons the quality of her meals were so good was because so many ingredients came from her garden. She would do large quantities of canning and freezing vegetables and fruits, especially strawberry preserves.
Flowers in her yard took up much of her time, especially roses. Her favorite color of rose was “dusty rose.” The flowers would be used for arrangements at New Salem Baptist Church and Union Baptist Church. This is where she would also teach Sunday school classes as well as other church duties. When she had free time she liked to fish, meet with friends, and play checkers. If you want to know about her competitive spirit, ask her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren if she ever went easy and let them win. Since Gladys Ruth grew up as an only child, she always wanted to be part of a larger family. Marrying into the Pointer family certainly gave her that opportunity. Many pleasant memories for her were with the siblings, spouses, nieces and nephews.
Gladys Ruth is survived by one son, Larry D. Pointer (Marva) of rural Miami; five grandchildren, Jason Pointer (Cari), Angela Pointer, Melissa Pointer, Jillian Pointer and Andrew Pointer (Chelsea); three great-grandchildren, Cade, Kelar and Oliver Pointer; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Gary R. Pointer (Lyle).
