October 14, 2015

Josie Mae Bittenbender Glaze, Josie or Jackie as she was known, even though most of us knew her as Grandma passed away peacefully at home with her family at her side Friday, Oct.9, 2015. She was born in Ottawa, Kan., Feb. 3, 1928, to Harry and Grace (Caleb) Bittenbender and raised in the Chippewa Hills. She went to school in Pomona, Kan., until the 12th grade.
She began work in the fields surrounding Pomona picking tomatoes and later married Fred Reed and gave birth to their son, James “Freddy” Reed. She eventually made her way to Paola, Kan., and worked as bar maid at Frank’s Tavern for many years when she met Alva Glaze and was married to him in Miami, Okla., Aug. 5, 1961, and soon after gave birth to their daughter, Cheryl. She soon became a housewife after traveling the country with Alva and his work running his drilling business.
She was an active member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and enjoyed the yearly pow wows. She moved to Spring Hill, Kan., in 1982 and remained there until 2011 when she and Alva moved to La Cygne to be with their daughter Susie.
She was mother and grandmother to any and all who met her. She held a close bond with her grandchildren and children. She was very family oriented and enjoyed Saturday evening poker games with her family. She enjoyed traveling to California to see her son, Freddy and grandson Chris. She believed in loving her family with all her heart and cared for mankind in general, never meeting a stranger. She will be loved and missed by so many!
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe Bittenbender, Sherman Bittenbender, Alfred Bittenbender; four sisters, Edith Johnston, Cornelia Johnson, Wanda Mundy, and Ruby Reeves; and a step-son Ronald Glaze.
She is survived by her husband, Alva of the home; one son, Freddy Reed and his wife Glenda of Diamond Springs, Calif.; one daughter, Cheryl Crowder and her husband Rick of Kansas City, Kan.; two stepdaughters, Susie Glaze of La Cygne, Kan., and Gayle Legero of Olathe, Kan.; two stepsons, Mike Glaze and his wife Lori of Spring Hill, Kan., and Joe Glaze and his wife Rene of Windsor, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to service time at the Chapel. Contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.