Gloria Smalley

Memorial services for Gloria A. Smalley, age 88, of Norfolk, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 29, 2025, at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue, in Norfolk. Reverend Eric Gradberg will officiate, with inurnment in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Norfolk. 

Visitation with family will be one hour prior to service at the chapel. 

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.

Gloria passed away Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Heritage of Bel Air in Norfolk.

Gloria Ann Smalley was born September 12, 1936, at her grandparents’ home near Creighton, Nebraska, to Harley and Della (Mueller) Reese. She was raised on a farm in Knox County, near Plainview and graduated from Plainview High School in 1953. Gloria started school at the age of four, in first grade all day, because they lived in the country and didn’t have kindergarten available.

On July 26, 1953, Gloria married Eldon “Jack” Lee Smalley in Plainview at what was called “Eden Valley Church”. 

Jack and Gloria raised two children, and they moved to numerous towns in the area 27 times as Jack was transferred with his employment. 

Gloria had numerous occupations over the years, helping at the grocery store in Laurel which Jack managed, a manufacturing job in Columbus, and as a dietary aide at Columbus Manor and at Northeast Community College.

In 1985, the couple purchased Riverside Ballroom in Norfolk and owned it until 1996. It had been a special place to gather for the Smalley family for years on Sunday afternoon for polka. Fun was had by all.

Gloria enjoyed the horse races and later on going to the casino with Jack, his brother, and sisters-in-law. She loved country music and went to the Grand Ole Opry in 1975 with family. Gloria enjoyed gardening, cooking, and refinishing furniture. Over the years, there were numerous pets in the Smalley house, as Gloria was an animal lover. She enjoyed her grandchildren and cherished time spent with them. 

Gloria is survived by her son, Rick (Sarah) Smalley of Fresno, CA; daughter, Joni (Billy) Schwarting of Norfolk, five grandchildren, Morgan, Joy, Brooke, Jared, and Ryan; four great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Roberta Reese of Creighton, Donna Galvin of Norfolk, and Pat (Les) Ronk of Clarksville, TN; and nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepmother, Freda; husband; and brother Norman Reese.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Animal Shelter of Northeast Nebraska, 1000 E. Omaha Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701.

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