Gladys L. Paulson, 94, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Marys Campus, after a brief illness.

Gladys was born July 10, 1921, in Erick, Oklahoma, the daughter of Baird and Carrie (Rogers) Jeffers. At age 17, she attended nursing school in Oklahoma City, where she received her RN degree. Known as the Oklahoma Sweetheart, she sang with The Trailblazers on KOMA radio in Oklahoma City, and was proud to have sung with Johnny Cash.

Gladys came to Austin in 1939 and worked at St. Olaf Hospital for two years; she was also a private duty nurse caring for infants and children. She married Ollien R. Paulson in the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, on July 30, 1939; he died in an automobile accident on April 13, 1982.

Gladys was a member of First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school; later she became active at Grace Baptist Church in Austin. Gladys was a licensed caterer for many years and enjoyed baking and decorating wedding cakes and cookies. She also enjoyed listening to country music, traveling and being with family.

Gladys is survived by her children: Linda (Keith) Anderson of Austin, Minnesota, Carol (Ron) Moore of Rochester, Minnesota, and Gary (Sandi) Paulson, St. Paul, Minnesota; grandchildren: Rick (Diane) Anderson, Blaine, Minnesota, Greg (Pam) Anderson, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Laurie (Tony Girdler) Bartuccio, Melbourne, Florida, Dana (Sean) Molitor, Rochester, Minnesota, DeAnn (Chad) Hines, Farmington, Minnesota, Cristina (Jay Alrick) Schulz, Racine, Minnesota, Dean (Amanda) Paulson, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Tammy Paulson, Webster, Minnesota; great-grandchildren: Katie, Jon(Courtney), Rachel, Aaron, Dustin, Nick, C.J., Jaxsen, Destiny, Milford, Briston and Bree; and one great-great grandchild, Bentley.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and one sister.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Brett Williams officiating. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the time of the service. There will be no reviewal.