Gloria Ann Godfrey

Gloria was born in Salinas, California on December 1, 1943. She graduated from Liberal High School in Liberal, Kansas. She met her husband Jerry in Borger, Texas. They were married for 58 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Odessa, Texas for many years.

Gloria dedicated her life to helping children and students in need. While she was raising her two young daughters, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Texas Permian Basin. She worked for Child Protective Services and became a teacher for the Ector County Independent School District. While working in ECISD, she worked as a Special Education teacher at the Youth Center and Ross Elementary. She dedicated her career to teaching students with behavior and academic disabilities. She worked with amazing educators through the years who became lifelong friends.

Gloria cared deeply for family, friends, and coworkers. She always had a positive outlook on life. She was very friendly and kind, and her smile would light up a room. Gloria was an avid reader. She shared her books with others and often took her books to the Senior Citizens Center so others could also have books to read. She loved spending time with family. She enjoyed traditions such as baking pumpkin pies and having her daughters and grandchildren over to decorate Christmas sugar cookies during the holidays. Gloria looked forward to football season every Fall so she could root for her favorite teams. Her favorite pastime was spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Velma Saker, and brother Charles Saker.

Gloria is survived by her husband Jerry Godfrey, daughters Karen Drace (Midland, Texas) and Shari Day and husband Jon Day (Gardendale, Texas), brother Larry Saker (Wichita, Kansas), and sister-in-law and husband Carol and Carl Jensen (Newport News, Virgina). She is also survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren Everett Day and wife Katherine (Stephenville, Texas), Nikki Day (Midland, Texas), Rylee Day and fiancé Brooks Keele (Lubbock, Texas), Dylan Drace (Lubbock, Texas), and Weston and Jessie Day (Stephenville, Texas).

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa, Texas under the direction of Reverend JC Owen.