Gloria LaVerne (Dunnell) Sickles, 92, of Winfield, Kansas, passed away Thursday morning, November 21, 2019.

She was born on December 10, 1926 to John Malin Dunnell and Edna Josephine (Howard) Dunnell in the family home in rural Butler County, Kansas. She was raised on the family farm near Mulvane, Kansas and graduated from Rose Hill High School in 1944.

Following a life-long dream, in 1947 Gloria enrolled in the William Newton Memorial Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1950. Gloria worked for a short time in Dr. Hawk's office in Winfield before moving to St. Louis, Missouri where she worked as the supervisor of surgery at Barnes Medical Hospital. In 1951, desiring to be close to her parents, Gloria returned to Winfield where she took a position at William Newton Memorial Hospital as the Surgery Supervisor.

Gloria was united in marriage to John Warren Sickles in her parents' home near Mulvane, Kansas on October 17, 1954. Gloria continued to work part-time as a nurse, retiring only as her family began to grow. The couple made their first home on the Sickles' family farm just north of New Salem, Kansas. They later moved a mile east where the couple farmed and raised their six children until 1976 when they "retired" from farming—but not from raising kids!—and moved to Woodland Park, Colorado. The couple resided in Colorado until 1986, when they returned to their farm by New Salem. In 2008, due to failing health, the couple moved to Winfield, Kansas.

Gloria was a faithful, life-long member of the Church of Christ where she constantly worked with the other women to serve those in need. She taught bible classes, cooked for the sick and grieving, and made quilts with the ladies of the congregation. She faithfully supported the Chamala Mission School and Hospital in Tanzania, Africa with money as well as work—making bandages for the patients and gowns for the babies in the mission hospital. Gloria was a loving, faithful Christian wife to Warren for 64 years. She was a loving Christian mother and strong Christian example to her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren.

During her "downtime," Gloria enjoyed working with the 4-H club and at summer church camps as her children were growing up. She loved gardening and was a charter member of the Winfield Gardenaires club, which she and her sister Jean Bielby founded in 1957. She loved canning and teaching ladies in her community as well and her daughters and granddaughters the skill. Gloria enjoyed sewing, quilting, baking, and putting together puzzles, or playing Skip-Bo, dominos, and Yatzee with her grandchildren and her beloved sisters, Jean, Marie, and Ginny. Gloria also loved fishing, especially with her sister Jean and her grandsons.

Gloria is survived by her son Jeffery W. Sickles, Larned, Kansas; three daughters, Janet Butler and husband Norman of Burden, Kansas, Jill DeRose of Denver, Colorado, Jane Smith and husband Christopher of Winfield, Kansas, 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, John Warren Sickles; two sons, James Todd Sickles and John Benjamin Sickles; five brothers, John Raymond Dunnell, Howard Alfred Dunnell, James Edward Dunnell, Lloyd William Dunnell and infant John R. Dunnell; and five sisters, Marie Josephine Owen, Jean Elizabeth Bielby, Virginia Ruth Alley and infants Mary H. Dunnell and an unnamed newborn sister.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at Miles Funeral Service. Interment will follow at New Salem Cemetery.

Memorials have been established in Gloria's name for the Flint Hills Christian Camp and for the Chimila Mission. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.