Obituary of Gladys S. Carlson

Gladys S. Carlson, 89, of Fort Myers, Fla. and Sunset Bay, Bemus Point, formerly of Sanibel Island, Fla., died Tuesday, April 16, 2013 in Fort Myers. A resident of Florida for over 30 years, she was born in Jamestown on March 27, 1924, a daughter of the late William G. and Elizabeth Smith Swanson. From 1958 until 1982 with her late husband, Robert, Gladys was co-founder, co-owner and operator of Pri-Det Investigations in Jamestown, which they built into a full service security company. During these years she took great pride in being 1 of only 26 licensed female private investigators in New York State. Gladys was also owner of Gladys Carlson Answering Service. She was a member, past president and statewide officer of Zonta Club and belonged to the Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, Thule Lodge and the Vikings. She had also worked as a 'secret shopper'. Gladys enjoyed golf, painting, playing the organ and especially entertaining. She loved her dog, Cookie. She is survived by a son, Gary W. Carlson of Fort Myers; two grandsons, Adam Carlson of Fort Myers Beach and Coury (Dawn) Carlson of Brooklyn, NY; a great-granddaughter, Aria Grace Carlson; and two nieces, Lynn Kinnear and Cynthia Sapp, and a nephew, Robert Wheelhouse, Jr. She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 64 years, Robert W. Carlson, whom she married September 30, 1942 and who died August 10, 2006; a sister, Gloria Wheelhouse; and a brother, Harold Swanson who died during World War II. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. Donald E. Ray will officiate. Burial will be in Bemus Point Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be made to the Jeremy Kinnear Scholarship Fund, c/o the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701.