Gloria J. Mallory, 77

Gloria Jean Mallory, 77, died peacefully at Mayo Clinic Methodist Hospital on Saturday, June 8, 2024 surrounded by her husband and three children.

Gloria was born April 15, 1947 in Albert Lea, Minnesota to parents Merle and Myrtle (Johanson) Hatle. Her father, Merle, called the birth of his only daughter a “glorious day,” which led to why they named her Gloria.

Gloria grew up on a farm in rural Adams, Minnesota. She often joked about the rigors of farm life and pulling double duty when she would help her mom with all the daily household chores and then help her dad outside as a farm hand. She graduated from Adams High School in 1965 and attended beauty/cosmetology school after graduation.

On October 11, 1969, she married Robert “Bob” Mallory and the couple resided in Austin, Minnesota. They met at the Mower County Fair in 1964. They were both looking forward to celebrating 55 years of marriage in the fall. Gloria spent her life making people look and feel beautiful as a cosmetologist for more than 50 years. She owned and operated her own hair salon for 45 years, and loved her career and her customers.

Gloria was on the homecoming court and won local beauty pageants and was crowned Queen of Mower County. She was a member of 4H and an accomplished seamstress who won awards for designing and sewing her own clothes.

Gloria was proud of being a successful business owner, but she would tell you her proudest achievements were being a mom and grandma. She loved her three children – Kara, Jayme, and Brady – fiercely and endlessly. As full as her heart was, it grew even bigger when she met her two grandchildren, Henry and Mallory Lamers. Gloria loved to attend her grandchildren’s sports and school events. Despite being a well-spoken person with an exceptional vocabulary, she forgot the meaning of the word “no” whenever her children and grandchildren asked her for anything.

Her hobbies included playing cards, gardening, cooking, learning history, being involved at church, writing cards and letters, sewing, embroidery, spending time at home, giving people rides to appointments, reading, talking on the phone, and watching game shows. She was a very careful person, so many are surprised she used to love driving fast in a blue car. Her father and others called her the “Flying Blue Angel.” She spoiled her little dog, Kenzie, to no end. She loved everyone and would go out of her way to help them and make them feel good. She also loved spending time with her husband. Early in their marriage, they would snowmobile together and go out with their friends. Later on in life, they enjoyed taking vacations, going on drives, going out to eat, taking care of each other, and being with their family. Gloria loved a good shrimp dinner, a steak burned into a hockey puck, Coca-Cola with a straw, and rice pudding. A true Norwegian, she didn’t care for much seasoning. Even salt and pepper could be too spicy.

Gloria was proud of being a breast cancer survivor and fought the disease twice. Once in 2000, and then again in 2020 to the last day of her life. Though she is no longer with us, Gloria won her battle with cancer by facing it every day with strength, courage, grace, resilience, faith, and love. Upon her second diagnosis, she said, “I’m glad it was me instead of a child.” That’s the type of person she was. Gloria was a radiant beauty who delighted in looking nice and did not like to leave the house until her hair was perfect. All that paled in comparison to her inner beauty. She possessed an incredible light and we were all lucky to stand in its glow. In her absence, her family now carries the torch of her life and legacy to spread that light to everyone. It’s said grief is the price we pay for love. We will forever be in debt, because we love her that much. She will forever be our “Flying Blue Angel.”

Gloria is survived by her husband, Bob; children, Kara Mallory, Jayme Lamers, Brady Mallory; sons-in-law, Matt Johnson, Steve Lamers; grandchildren, Henry and Mallory Lamers; honorary granddaughters, McKenna and Jaiden; brother Mike (Barb) Hatle; brother-in-law, Jerry (Lenora) Mallory; sisters-in-law Barbara Hatle, Linda Ludwig, Connie Hatle; many beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and countless friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Merle and Myrtle (Johanson) Hatle; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lawrence and Helen (Halseth) Mallory; grandparents; brothers, David Hatle, Curtis Hatle; brother-in-law, Eugene Mallory; aunts and uncles.

A funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at Marshall Lutheran Church in Adams with the Reverend Jeremy Johnson officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Monday at the Adams Funeral Home and at the church on Tuesday for one hour before the service. Interment will be in Marshall Lutheran Cemetery.

Arrangements by the Adams Funeral Home.