Gladys I. Rand

Gladys Rand, 99, passed away peacefully May 30, 2019 at Vintage Park in Paola, Kansas. Born to Louis and Helen Brand in Beagle, Kansas on January 27, 1920, Gladys grew up on the family farm with her older brother Charles, along with aunts, uncles and cousins from neighboring farms. Gladys graduated from Paola High School in 1938 and attended Lawrence Business College before returning to Paola to work for the Miami County Superintendent of Schools. At that time there were 103 one-room school houses in Miami County. In 1941 she started to work in the office of the Miami County Attorney. She married John Floyd Rand on June 5, 1941, making their home in Paola. They became the loving parents of three children: Nancy, Bob, and Judy. Along with her sister-in-law, Thelma Rand, Gladys owned and operated the Investors Loan and Abstract Company on the Paola Square for several years, beginning in 1945. Gladys and Floyd also operated Rand’s Electric Shop from a small shop at the back of their home property on South Silver Street, and later opened Rand’s Bait Shop. In 1976 they built Rand’s Oil Company Convenience Store in Louisburg, with the first self-service gas station in Miami County. In 1979 they opened Rand’s Short Stop, the first convenience store in Paola. Two years later they built Rand’s Convenience Store in Hillsdale which they operated for 17 years. They developed many friendships through their businesses and always appreciated the support of the local community. Gladys always enjoyed business and finance, but her real joy came from her family and friends and from helping others. She was available to anyone, friend or stranger, who needed a helping hand or just someone to listen. She found time to be actively involved in many local organizations: the Miami County Diabetes Association, the Miami County Al-Anon group, in which she was one of the original organizers, and The Lighthouse Women’s Group. She was a member of the Lighthouse Presbyterian Church, and a strong supporter of its Celebrate Recovery program. Gladys wanted it known that the program is for anyone with a “hurt, habit or hang-up”, and she found comfort knowing the program was reaching those in need. Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Floyd in 1997. She is survived by her children: Nancy Churchman (Bill), Olathe; Robert Rand (Julie), Louisburg; and Judy Sickles (Bob), Vancouver, Washington; 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. On Gladys’ 90th birthday, family and friends came from all over the country to help her celebrate. But she often said the highlight for her was later hosting a special dinner at her house for her seven grandchildren & their spouses and watching them all get reacquainted. The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at Vintage Park for their excellent care. Gladys considered everyone there to be her second family. Visitation will be 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. followed by a celebration of life 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Dengel and Son Mortuary, 305 N Pearl St, Paola KS. Memorials may be made to the Lighthouse Women’s Bible Study; Miami County Diabetes Support Group, or Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care, in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, Paola. To leave a special tribute for the family please go to tribute button.