Ella Beatrice Gleason, 82, of Central Point, who died Friday...

Mrs. Gleason was born Oct. 18, 1899, in a sod house on a Donation Land Claim in Kansas belonging to her grandfather, Thomas Harper. She was the eldest of the 11 children of Harvey and Elizabeth Harper.

She taught grade school in Kansas before her marriage on Aug. 17, 1919, to Ernest M. Gleason, who survives.

Mrs. Gleason was active in community organizations and Farm Bureau activities in Kansas. After the couple moved to Medford in 1937, she was active in the PTA and a long-time leader in Jackson County Home Extension work. She was a past president of the Howard Extension Unit and served on the advisory board for Jackson County Extension Units and taught sewing classes for the county program.

Mrs. Gleason was a 30-year member and past president of the Howard Garden Club and was active in the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs, assisting with the organization of flower shows in Jackson County.

She was a member of the First Christian Church of Medford.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include four sons, Royal E. Gleason, Albany, Alfred M. Gleason and Jimmie M. Gleason, both of Portland, and Vernon L. Gleason, Boulder, Colo.; two daughters, Marjorie E. Peterson and E. Lorraine Benson, both of Medford; three brothers, Vernon H. Harper, Apache Well, Ariz., Virgil F. Harper, Brookings, and Loyal G. Harper, Grants Pass; five sisters, Winnie L. Eppinger, Medford, Ruby R. Hoover, Talent, Esther B. Nelson, Lynnwood, Wash., Grace E. Lamb, Medford, and Vada M. La Musga, Anderson, Calif.; 19 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Theron H. "Ted" Gleason, two brothers, W. Arthur Harper and Marion A. Harper, two grandchildren and one great-grandson.