Gloria Olson

It is with great sadness that I share the passing of my mother, Gloria Olson on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family and snuggled up to her daughter who held her hand until her last breath.

She was born December 30, 1931 in Port Huron to the late Fred and Virginia Thomas.

Gloria graduated from Port Huron High School in 1949. She had a successful career as a manager with AT&T and retired after 30 years. After her retirement she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandkids, nieces and nephews. Aunt “GoGo” was the one to go to when anyone, even her adult brothers, wanted their backs tickled. She would tickle for hours! All the kids would wait patiently lined up on the floor waiting for their turn!

She met the love of her life, Ronald Olson in 1958 down at the stone piles under the Blue Water Bridge where their parents each had fishing shanty’s side by side. Ron and Gloria spent the next 50+ years enjoying family where everyone spent every weekend in the summer playing volleyball in the pool, jarts in the yard and Texas hold’em on the patio. There wasn’t a Christmas Eve that wasn’t spend at Aunt GoGo’s. Santa made an appearance, family surrounded the player piano singing songs and Uncle Ron kept the eggnog flowing. Gloria loved garage sales, going to the casino, bingo and enjoying a 7&7 with a Capri Menthol 120's.

She is survived by her daughter, Lisa (Olson) Tramski; grandchildren, Stefanie Matar, Jaclyn Matar and Leo King Jr.; great grandchildren, Conner Bessler, Zachary Bauer and Lydia Bethke; brothers, Pete (Donna) Thomas, David (Donna) Thomas and Gregory (Harriet) Thomas; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2010; and her loving son, Russell Matar in 2013.

The family is planning to celebrate Gloria over the summer with a fish fry, which was an annual family favorite tradition.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.