June 18, 2003 Gladys Akeson SPRINGFIELD,Oregon - The graveside service will be July 3 for Gladys Akeson of Springfield, who died June 15 of age-related causes. She was 99. She was born March 26, 1904, in Weeping Water, Neb., to Oscar and Stella Rector McNurlin. She moved with her family in 1918 to Washington and then to Salem before returning to Nebraska in 1924. She graduated from high school in Salem in 1922. She married Thomas Akeson in Weeping Water on June 9, 1928. They farmed in Nebraska until 1975, when they moved to Escondido, Calif. He died Feb. 8, 1989. She moved to Eugene in 1993 and to Springfield in 1997. Akeson worked as a secretary prior to her marriage. Her interests included playing cards and word games, traveling and spending time with her family. She was a member of Weeping Water United Church of Christ and Order of Eastern Star. Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn Buskirk of Eugene; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. A grandson died previously. The July 3 service will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Weeping Water. Musgrove Family Mortuary of Eugene is in charge of arrangements