Gladys Bates Hoover, 89, of Russellville, died Friday, December 13, 2013 at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. She was born May 13, 1924 at Pine Ridge, Arkansas to Marion Alexander and Missouri Jane Smith Bates. She was a member of First Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Rick Smith Sunday School Class. She was a teacher for 37 years in four states, Arkansas, Missouri, Michigan and Alaska, and retired from the Russellville Middle School as a math teacher. She was a member of the Arkansas Education Association and the National Education Association, loved her students and made teaching challenging, inspiring, and fun. She was also an excellent cook, and loved sharing what she made with others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and five sisters.

Survivors include her husband, Winford A. Hoover; a son, Elwin A. Hoover of Fort Smith; a daughter and son-in-law, Lucretia D. and Donald E. Keaster; a sister, Thelma Cabaniss of Russellville; five grandchildren and their spouses, Chad and Becky Keaster, Jeremy and Amanda Keaster, Meredith Hoover, Christina and Cory Williams and William Hoover; and six great-grandchildren, Kaylee Rohlman, Koree, Kadee, Kayna, Karsyn and Luke Keaster.

The funeral service will be at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Russellville, officiated by the Rev. Tom Walker and the Rev. Greg Sykes. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Highland Cemetery near Cherry Hill by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Fishers of Men and Rick Smith's Sunday School Class.

The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 5-6 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 2405 East Parkway, Suite 3, Russellville, Arkansas 72802; or to First Baptist Church Missions, 200 South Denver Avenue, Russellville, Arkansas 72801.