THE
EARLY YEARS
Thomas
Lloyd Kincaid was born in Gainesville, Texas in 1896. His parents and six siblings moved to the Ozarks in Crane,
Mo. He married Mae Rickman in
1916. Their first child,
Gladys Lee, was born in 1918 and daughter Margaret Mae in 1921.
Lloyd took his family to Colorado Springs, Co where he worked
construction. He then moved back to Crane where their son, Ray William was
born. Gladys was in her 3rd
school by this time. Click Here
For MORE.........
LIFE
IN CARO
Gladys
and Margaret helped earn their way with baby sitting, getting 25 cents for
an evening, which often-included ironing and cleaning. As soon as Gladys turned 16 she got a job a Dibbles five and
dime store on main street in Caro, making 10 cents a hour and working
after school and Saturdays. She
was still able to take part in school activities, sports, debates, music
and more. She then got a job
at Hooper’s Drug Store making 15 cents an hour working at the soda
fountain and learning to stock shelves. After graduating as Salutatorian
of her class of 1931 Gladys attended Tuscola County Normal.
She got certified and began to teach in the county schools while
still working part time at the drug store.
THE
TEACHING BEGINS
Gladys
had always loved art and had a opportunity to learn china painting when
Bonnie and Tom were little and Harold was working long hours at the drug
store. She started teaching
her friends around the kitchen table in 1950 arranging class time so she
was available for family activities, being there when the children came
home form school or Harold needed her help at the drug store.
She never dreamed that her hobby would become an avocation and
someday take her around the world. Click
Here For MORE.........
FROM
TEACHER TO ADVOCATE
In
1960 Gladys attended the first teachers national organization in Dallas,
Texas a charter member. It
was the beginning of an association, which is still dear to her heart. Twenty years later Gladys would be elected as president of
IPAT (International Porcelain Art Teachers) with members in 38 countries.
HER
BELOVED CARO
In
Gladys’ travels, teaching, lectures, workshop, seminars and conferences
she has been awarded citations, certificates, plaques, honors from
countries and dignitaries and much more.
None have been more meaningful or touching than those bestowed on
her by her community of Caro. Click
Here For MORE.........
ADVOCATE
OF THE ART OF LIFE
Gladys
had a “change of lifestyle” as she says when her eyesight failed her
in the early 1990s. She
continued to teach some but did not paint.
Finally she was declared legally blind and it looked like she was
finished painting. “Losing
her wheels” was the hardest thing for her.
Then in 2000 she had surgery to remove ½ of her remaining kidney
– she had lost the other kidney to cancer 30 years before. This left her
with less energy but she is functioning and doing well. Click
Here For MORE.........