Obituary of Gladys Van Dyke

Gladys Lorene Van Dyke was born in Chatham, Louisiana on January 28, 1945 to the late OP and Mary McDonald.  She departed this life on Friday, October 10, 2018 in Alexandria, Louisiana.  She was the first born child of seven children.  She was a very proud lady and beautiful person who did not meet a stranger. She was a hard worker and was a dedicated mother that made multiple sacrifices for her children.

At an early age she accepted Christ as her personal savior and was an active member of Wilton United Methodist Church until her health prevailed.  Gladys lived life to the fullest and was the matriarch of the Van Dyke family. She had a variety of interests including cooking, sewing, amateur photography and arts and crafts. Everyone that knew her remembers her delicious and savory meat pies.

She was the mother of seven children; Terry Van Dyke of Pineville, La., Debbie Van Dyke of Boyce, La., Regina Van Dyke-Kobbah of Charleston, WV., Huey Van Dyke, Jr of Alexandria, La.,  Patrick Van Dyke (Alisha) of Boyce, La., Brian Van Dyke of Brooklyn, NY. And Ruben Van Dyke of Baton Rouge, La.

Memories of Gladys will be shared by her remaining sibling, Mary Dean Drayton (Bill) and Bobbie McDonald of Gary, IN; Michael McDonald of Austin, Tx;  Thomas McDonald of Winnfield,La.  She also leaves behind seven grandchildren, one great grandson and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents OP McDonald and Mary McDonald-Wesley, two brothers, Allen and David McDonald and one grandson, Huey Van Dyke III.