Gladys Draper

(From Carter-Ricks Funeral Home)

Funeral Services for Gladys Charlene Draper of Troy, MO (formerly of Winfield, MO) will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield. Pastor Tim Swofford, pastor of Saddle-Up Cowboy Church, will officiate. Burial will be in New Salem Cemetery near Winfield. Serving as pallbearers will be Gary Meier, Mario Ammons, Steven Bradshaw, Mike Perry, Terry Turpin and Larry Shramek. 

Gladys, 101, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at the Lincoln County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Troy. 

One of twelve children, she was born April 19, 1924 in Benton City, MO, the daughter of Tate and Etta Lee Qualls Sheets. She was united in marriage on March 23, 1942 in Neosho, MO to Robert James Draper, Sr. This union was blessed with three children: Robert “Bob”, Jr., Suzanne and Michael. Robert and Gladys lived, worked and raised their family in the Winfield community. 

Gladys drove a school bus for 17 years for the Lincoln County R-IV School District in Winfield. She was a long-time and faithful member of the Troy First Baptist Church. When Gladys was 85 years old, she was part of a group of widows that started the “Baptist Biker Babes” in 2010. 

Described as being “spicy”, Gladys took her last ride on a motorcycle when she was 99 years old, and got to ride in a corvette last year when she was 100 years old! Quite independent, she lived in her own home until about two weeks ago. 

Gladys is preceded in death by seven brothers: Raymond Sheets, Louis Sheets, Brownie Sheets, Glen Sheets, Leo Sheets, Stanley Sheets and Gordon Sheets; four sisters: Dorothy Hinten, Margaret Carman, Darlene Rich and Lois Spradlen; and her beloved husband of 56 years, Robert Draper, Sr. 

Survivors include her children: Robert James “Bob” Draper, Jr. and his wife, Donna, of Arnold, MO, Suzanne Bundy and her husband, Dennis, of Vassar, MI, and Michael Alan Draper of Troy; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great, great-grandchildren. Gladys also leaves nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. 

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of the Service at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home near Winfield. Memorials may be made to the Charity of the Donor’s Choice in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 3838 East Highway 47, P.O. Box 253, Winfield, MO 63389. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.