Gloria Ellen Queen's Obituary
GLORIA ELLEN LAWRENCE QUEEN
Gloria’s life began as just another beautiful spring day in west central Idaho. On April 8, 1932 at the Murphy family ranch just outside Cambridge, it was a special day indeed, for that was the day Nina Murphy’s son Charles Lawrence and his wife Ruth gave birth to their first child, Gloria Ellen Lawrence.
As the depression deepened, tales of available work from family members drew Charles to Southern California, and Gloria celebrated her 4th birthday with her mother Ruth and baby sister Lois bound for sunny Los Angeles on the speeding “Challenger” express train. What a surprise it was when her mother opened her suitcase on the train and like magic, lifted out an entire coffee cake to celebrate the occasion! Gloria always remembered that trip, traveling in a special train car for women and children, and being doted upon by a stewardess-nurse, and arriving in warm and sunny Los Angeles dressed in an Idaho snowsuit when daddy met them all with welcoming hugs!
Gloria spent most of her early childhood in San Fernando, attending Morningside School and playing with sister Lois and cousin Bonnie, already asserting her growing ability to play “boss.” The start of World War II drew the family to Harbor City, where Charley found work at Todd Shipyard in Wilmington. Being right off the ocean, it was a scary time, with frequent air raid drills, blackout curtains, and massive rationing; shoes, meat, tires, gas, fabrics and groceries. As the war drew to a close, the family returned to Idaho, but remained for only a year before California called them back once again, this time to Sacramento, where they finally put down deep roots and Gloria spent the rest of her life.
Gloria finished high school at Grant Union, graduating in 1950 and gaining more than just an education, for it was in her junior year there that she met Clifford Queen, who became not only the love of her life but also her husband, just two weeks after her graduation. Their marriage ended just shy of 50 years, with Cliff’s death in May of 2000.
Gloria and Cliff Queen lived those many years in a beautiful home in Arden Park, for which Gloria had drawn the floor plan when she was only 18 and engaged! Once moved in and later needing a new washing machine, Gloria took a job as an “Information Operator” at Pacific Telephone in downtown Sacramento. Within a short time, she transferred to the downtown business office and became a Service Representative. While joined there by her sister Lois and cousin Ruth, that didn’t last, as she excelled in her work and was soon promoted to Supervisor. She remained in management, serving the company for 30 years before retiring in 1985. What began as a means to buy a new washing machine turned into a lifetime career!
Over the years, Gloria and Cliff opened their home to family and friends alike, hosting many swim parties, bar-b-ques and other events. While childless, they doted on their niece Jeannie and nephew Mike, taking them on many outings and frequent trips to Farrell’s Ice Cream!
They also loved to travel, making numerous trips to Hawaii and the South Pacific and an extended trip to the United Kingdom while Jeannie was stationed in Wales with the US Navy. They also purchased a travel trailer and spent many summers relaxing at GraeEagle.
Gloria was a widow for 22 years, eventually selling their home in Arden Park and relocating to a smaller home and beginning fresh memories in Carmichael.
Gloria fought 4 different cancers and beat the odds for 15 years. During that time, she gave up driving and her sister Lois became her principal chauffeur and personal shopper for much of the time, helped in later years by her cousin Ruthie and neighbor and friend Gail. As the cancer required periods of convalescent care and the Covid pandemic set in and Lois had to step back, Gloria acquired outside help, finally hiring Rena Johnson, who became a special angel and deserve exceptional thanks for the extraordinary amount of TLC along with help and assistance she provided Gloria in her last days. Special thanks are also in order to Gloria’s niece Jeannie who travelled here countless times and helped her dear aunt while visiting, and especially to her neighbor Gail, who brought food, watered plants, took out trash, and provided encouragement over the years.
We also express immense gratitude to all of the doctors and nurses at Mercy San Juan Hospital for the high-quality care they provided during Gloria’s many visits there, and to all of her attending physicians and specialists for the love and concern they so freely shared with her and with the family over these last several years.
Gloria was preceded in death by parents Charles and Ruth Lawrence and husband Clifford Queen, and is survived by sister Lois (David) Briggs, niece Jeannie (Robert) Salazar, and nephews Michael Andrews and Michael (Lesa) Queen, numerous cousins, and was a Great-aunt to a multitude of grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
She is now finally pain-free and at peace. We bid her Godspeed on her final journey.
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