Gladys Dees Lanier

GARNER- Gladys Dees Lanier, 90, died peacefully Monday at her home, surrounded by her family. She was born in Wayne County to the late Frank Dees and Gladys Carolyn Broughton Dees. At the age of four, her father died and her mother later married Tom Dees, who raised her as his own. Gladys grew up in Pikeville, NC with her twin sister Carolyn and younger sister Jean. She graduated from Wake Forest College where she met Coyte, her husband of 61 years. She later earned her Master’s in Education from East Carolina University. Gladys taught school for over 30 years, the majority of that time in Garner, where she and Coyte raised their two children, Coyte Jr. and Lisa. Gladys will be fondly remembered for her extraordinarily kind and generous heart. Even throughout her long illness, she maintained her trademark sense of humor. More than anything, she showed us all how to love unconditionally. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Thursday at Bryan-Lee Funeral Chapel, Garner. Burial will follow at Montlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Survivors include her daughter, Lisa Lanier Powell (Jon); grandchildren, Daniel Lanier (Susan), Derek Lanier (Toshia), Courtney Schuler (Donnie), Spencer Phillips (Alex), Clayton Powell and Benjamin Powell (Savannah), as well as 8 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Coyte L. Lanier, Sr. and her son, Coyte L. Lanier, Jr.