Gladys Marie (Littrell) McMains, 97, passed away peacefully on the morning of July 11, 2025.
Born in Greencastle on April 21, 1928, to Minton “Bud” and Myrtle (Padgett) Littrell, she graduated from Greencastle High School. She married the love of her life, Ezra V. McMains on November 12, 1945.
Gladys touched countless lives with her warmth, generosity, and quiet humor. She made everyone feel welcome, whether it was through her legendary cakes, cookies, or her famous homemade “noodles”. She always had popcorn, chips or candy (especially Circus Peanuts) just in case you needed a little snack. She loved collecting recipes, if you needed a recipe for something, she probably had one. She also enjoyed looking through old family photos and couldn’t wait until the next family reunion. She was also an avid Pacer fan.
Gladys had worked as a telephone operator and at Mallory’s. Her favorite job was working as a cook for Lamda Chi and Delta Gamma at DePauw University. She fondly referred to the students as “her boys” and some of the girls called her “Gladdie”.
She was a longtime member of the Hanna Street Baptist Church, Greencastle.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ezra; brothers Chester, Lawrence, Lemon, Luther and Lewis; and sisters Lola and Leona.
She was deeply loved and will be deeply missed by her children, Larry (Susie), Patricia Moore, Karen (Steve) Lynch; grandchildren Sean (Jordan) Marshall, Stephanie Jent, Steven (Heather) McMains, Chris (Angie) Lynch, Mike (Misty) McMains, Tim Jent, Chad Moore, Stephanie (Robert) Myers, Donnie Jellison, Mandy (D.J.) Shillings, Kellie, Rob; 15 great grandchildren, 18 great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and her very special dog, Rowdy.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the Little Walnut Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 12 noon until the time of services.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Gladys to the Putnam County Humane Society or Senior Center.
She leaves behind an unfillable space in our lives. The love she poured into us will continue to live on in the meals we share, the stories we tell, and the traditions we carry forward. Till we meet again.
