Gladys E. Wayman

Gladys E. (nee Trott) Wayman of St. John, IN, formerly of Crown Point, IN, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2024, at the age of 97. She was born on December 2, 1926, to Louis and Eleanor Trott on a dry farm in Phelps County, Nebraska. She grew up during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, hardships that affected her outlook for the rest of her life, and about which she wrote a lengthy, unpublished memoir. She went to a one-room schoolhouse until moving to live with an aunt while she attended Kearney High School in Kearney, Nebraska. She graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1947, where she was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The Wesleyan, and a devoted member of the Willard Sorority. After graduation, she won the Gilbert M. Hitchcock scholarship to attend the Columbia University School of Journalism, where she obtained a master’s degree. In 1951, Gladys married Richard Wayman. They moved to Crown Point, IN, in 1969 and lived on South Court Street until Dick’s passing in 2017. She held leadership positions for over four decades in the First United Methodist Church of Crown Point, always maintained a large vegetable garden, and was renowned for her cookies, pies and cakes. After their children were grown, she and Dick traveled widely in the United States and abroad. She lived the past seven years at Park Place in St. John, IN, where in addition to family visits, she read the newspaper cover-to-cover every day, read hundreds of books and until her last day maintained her strong interest in current events; as she commented four days before her passing “It’s important to know what’s going on in the world.” She is survived by three children: Jim (Suzanne) Wayman of Papillion, NE, Janet (Terry Gaca) Wayman of Chicago, IL, Karen (Jeff) Schaefer of Lombard, IL; and nine grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Willis and Bernard; sisters, Jean and Irma; and an infant daughter, Barbara Jean. She appears to have lived longer than any ancestor, but her family wishes it could have been longer still. Her family is grateful to the staff of Park Place for the excellent support they provided to Gladys in her final years. A memorial service in her honor will be held on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 352 S. Main St, Crown Point, IN. www.burnsfuneral.com.

Gladys E. Wayman

December 2, 1926 - May 11, 2024