SURGOINSVILLE- Gloria "Glo" Houston, 81, passed away Wednesday morning (September 22, 2010) at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center with her family by her side.

Gloria was a loving wife, mother, granny, and great granny, and adored by her family. She was born June 5, 1929 to Milton Mark and Hannah Hughes Edwards in Johnson City, TN, the seventh of eight children. She married Ben Hyder Houston on December 7, 1945. They were married 62 years before his death. Gloria was saved and baptized in 1949 during a revival in Johnson City. She loved antiques, shopping, cooking, and especially Christmas. Even during her later years she always made our family Christmas' so special, each one was talked about until the next year's Christmas celebration. She also enjoyed gospel music, especially Down Home gospel on TV, and the Main Street bluegrass show.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Houston, Son, Leslie "Big Boy" Houston, and granddaughter, Beverly McNamara, her parents, and sisters, Ruth O'Brien, Mae Snodgrass, Barbara Cable, and Lois Serls.

Gloria was blessed with five faithful and devoted children, Faye Houston Blackman and husband, Roy, Bennie Houston Carithers and husband, Mike of Fort Worth, TX, Mickey Houston and wife, Susan, Teresa Houston Greer and husband, Johnny Greer of Surgoinsville, TN, and daughter-in-law, Shirley Houston, She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Leslie Houston, Cookeville, TN, Kelvin, Chris, Eric, and Mark Houston, Andrew, Joe, and Chris Greer of Surgoinsville, Ben Houston II, of Knoxville, TN, Erin Ciancioiolo of Alexandria, VA, Bridget McNamara of Fort Worth, TX, and James McNamara III of Chesapeake, MD, and Teresa Teeter of Cedar Hill, TX, caretaker and special friend, Betty Presley, brother, Edgar Edwards and Judy Hodge of Johnson City, and Irene Stansberry of Knoxville, TN, Gloria also has 14 precious great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, special sister, June Houston and Ms. Houston's oldest and dearest friend, Marie Rector.

Calling hours are from 6 to 8:00 P.M. Thursday at Johnson Funeral Home and anytime at the residence.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 8:00 P.M. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Larry Houston and Rev. Tecky Hicks officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted Friday at 11:00 A.M. at Mountain Home National Cemetery. Everyone wishing to attend is asked to meet at the cemetery by 10:45 A.M.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

To leave an online message or to sign the guest registry for the Houston family, please visit us @www.johnsonfuneralhome.org.

Johnson Funeral Home of Church Hill is serving the Houston family.