Gladys Ellen Mason Beal

GLADYS ELLEN MASON BEAL, age 83, of Little Rock, Ark., died peacefully on Thursday, July 25, 2013, surrounded by her family. Gladys was born on April 17, 1930 in Lilly, La. She was the youngest of seven children born to Lucius Walker and Ethel Cheek Mason. She grew up during the Great Depression living on the Louisiana side of Junction City, but going to school in Arkansas. She was the last surviving sibling of that family. Inspired by her older sister, who had become a nurse, Gladys applied at Warner Brown Hospital in El Dorado. She enrolled in a nursing program there on a scholarship and graduated at the top of her class. She took the state nursing board exam and passed with the third highest score in the state. In 1961 she began her nursing career as a staff nurse at the old VA Hospital on Roosevelt Road in LR. She advanced to head nurse three years later. She was then promoted to Operating Room Clinical Coordinator, the title she held until her retirement 36 years later. She assisted in managing the move from the Roosevelt Road facility to the John L. McClellan Memorial Veteran's Administration Hospital on Seventh street. She was present at some of the most recent advances in medical history. She assisted with the first open heart surgical case in the state of Arkansas. One of her proudest achievements was her role in helping design and obtain state of the art equipment for the 11 operating room theaters at the new VA Hospital. She was also proud to have served as a mentor and counselor to many of the surgical residents that she came in contact with as they completed their residency requirements at the VA. She developed deep love and respect for many of those that she worked with, but was also never shy about verbalizing her concern if she felt they needed suggestions or advice. Her management style allowed her to state her case quite effectively when she was passionate about a certain piece of equipment, or the way a certain surgeon or nurse should behave while in surgery. Her wonderful smile, contagious laugh, and wicked sense of humor could often calm the most irritable soul. She became a friend and mentor to many. During her nursing career, she was often called by friends and family, to consult on a medical question they would have. She would never hesitate to offer her assistance as best she could. According to her daughter, she gave the world's most painless shot. She was appointed by Governor Jim Guy Tucker to serve on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, where she served from 1996 to Jan 2000. During this appointment she served as the President. She was a longtime member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, where she faithfully served in various capacities as well as developing many enduring friendships. She is survived by her husband of over 60 years, Robert K. Beal, and her daughter, Rebecca. She is also survived by her faithful Boxer, Libby, as well as a host of friends and family throughout the country. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her, and will always have a special place in their hearts. The family would like to give a very special thanks to the wonderful physicians who cared for her at Baptist Medical Center Little Rock, including Dr. Solomon Mogbo, Dr. David Reding, Dr. Robert Searcy, Dr. Mary Searcy, and Dr. Dean Kumpuris. We are also very grateful for the excellent nursing care provided to her throughout her stay in the SICU at Baptist Medical Center by each and every staff member. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials can be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church or to a favorite charity. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 29 at Ruebel Funeral Home. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, July 30 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Cathedral, Little Rock, Ark. Burial will be private. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.