Gladys Grace Liles

On October 19, 2025, Gladys Grace Liles entered her Heavenly home, where she was welcomed by her husband, George, daughters, Jana and Perri, and other family members. She was born March 21,1941 in St. James, Missouri to Woodford Pascal and Dorothy Berneice (Kelley) Fisher.

Gladys lived in Mexia most of her life. She graduated from Mexia High School, Class of 1959. She loved being in the MHS band and talked about it often. She loved her Class of ’59 girlfriends; they made numerous ‘Girl Trips’ for many years. In the beginning, they referred to them as “reunions”. Dad always joked “how many reunions are you having this year”? Those girl trips meant more to Mom than anyone realized. They also raised money to give Scholarships to Mexia graduates from the Class of ’59.

Gladys married the love of her life, George Jackson Liles, III on September 22, 1961 and they were blessed with three daughters. As the mom of three girls, she had her hands full. She never complained, “she loved us more than any mother should”. Her name was “Sister” to the Fishers, “Mom” to Dustie, Perri and Jana, and Forever “the Memaw” to the grands!

Gladys and George always worked on jobs together. They worked for the City of Mexia, she worked in the City Manager’s office, and he served as a police officer while actively starting their photography business after hours. The kids didn’t realize their parents were working two jobs until after they were grown, as they never mentioned it. No matter how busy Gladys and George were, they always made time to attend their daughters’ activities.

Gladys and George eventually opened their photography business full-time, Photos by Liles; this was more like a hobby, they loved and thoroughly enjoyed it. They did portraits and weddings on weekends. Although Gladys’s job was to assist George, there was one time they had overbooked and she, reluctantly, had to do the pictures for one wedding while he had to do the other. However, she did a terrific job. This was before digital, so they had to wait a week for the pictures to be developed to see if they turn out ok. Their work paid off as they were able to retire and move to Lake Limestone. They lived for 20 years on the lake where they made many wonderful, lasting memories.

A special memory of Gladys was her remarkable love of reading from her childhood throughout her adult life. She was well known at the library, when they received new books, they called her. She had a large collection of books at home; she tried to instill the importance of reading to her children and grands. Gladys took every grandchild to get a library card as well as carrying them regularly to check out books; this was of the utmost importance to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 63 years, George Liles; daughters, Perri Liles Ingram and Jana Kay Liles; brothers, Jimmy, Jackie, and Jr. Fisher.

Gladys is survived by her daughter, Dustie Liles Bishop; grandchildren, Matthew Paschal, Kendal Rabine and husband Scott, Morgan Ticknor and husband Wesley, Reagan Welch, Batie Bishop and wife McKenna, Davie Marie Bishop, and Jackson Ray Ingram; great grandchildren, Saxton and Denise Rabine, Avery Henderson, Noah Flores, Helena Ticknor, and Jude White; sisters, Dorothy Harrison, Karen Plummer, and Billie Hatfield; son-in-law, Johnny Ingram; and sisters-in-law, Carolyn Hancock and Janice Fisher; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 23, 2025 at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home with Reverend Robert Blackmon officiating. Interment will follow in the Forest Glade Cemetery. Johnny Ingram, Jackson Ingram, Batie Liles Bishop, Noah Flores, Matthew Paschal, Scott Rabine, Saxton Rabine, Jude White, Kade Johnson, Wesley Ticknor, Clint Fisher, and Josh Fisher. The Mexia Police Department will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, at Blair- Stubbs Funeral Home.