Gladys E. Prothero, a lifetime resident of Orange County, passed away suddenly on Sunday April 27th 2014, she was 85 years old. Her husband of fifty-two years, Raymond H. Prothero Jr., had passed away in 2001. She is survived by their three children, Bill Prothero, Bob Prothero, and Nancy Frasu, nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and one great, great, grandchild.

Gladys was born in Kansas and moved to Orange County, California with her parents when she was one year old. She lived in the city of Orange until she married and moved to El Toro (now Lake Forest) as a young bride where she set up housekeeping on their citrus ranch. As a member of one of the founding families in El Toro, she was very active in the community, the El Toro Women's Club, Heritage Hill Historical Park, and a life time member of the El Toro Historical Society. She was instrumental in saving the El Toro Post Office (now the Lake Forest Post Office) which, at the time, was going to be moved to San Juan Capistrano. She was also active in the Orange County Farm Bureau.

Those who knew Gladys will remember her as being a spirited woman who lived a joyous life, traveling the world multiple times. She loved art and painting and has left behind numerous paintings of her friends, family, community and travels. She had a generous heart and was an inclusive community minded woman. For Gladys, no one was a stranger. She was a loving wife and mother and will be greatly missed by her friends and family and all who knew and loved her.

Memorial services will be held for Gladys at the O'Connor's Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Pkwy., Laguna Hills, CA 92653 on Saturday May 3rd 2014 at 1 PM. Viewing will be on Friday May 2nd from 7 PM to 9 PM.