Gladys Lorene Drewel

Gladys Lorene Drewel, longtime resident and the oldest member of the First Baptist Church, passed away May 11, 2026 at the age of 94.

She was born in Steelville, Mo on June 11, 1931 to the late Rev. A.B. and Bessie Sadler. She graduated from Belle High School in 1949 and from there she went on to Washington, DC, where for a short time, she worked for the F.B.I. Upon returning to Belle, she worked at the local shoe factory and also as secretary of the First Baptist Church.

In 1951 she married her best friend, Charles Kenneth Drewel of Belle. Ken was drafted and they began their military adventure. After retiring they purchased a second home and became snowbirds spending winters in Texas.

Lorene was very active in her church. read her bible daily, and her faith in God was strong. Lorene was a sweet, caring and loving wife and in 1961 she and Ken adopted their only child, a daughter Katina Melinda. Family was everything to Lorene. She will be missed greatly by those that knew and loved her.

She is survived by: Katina Thomas of Hillsboro, Mo; two granddaughters, Ashley McBride and her husband Jamie of Caanan and Stevie Ray Thomas and her fiancé Jared Cave of Crystal City; four great-grandchildren, Christian and Zachariah McBride, Jace Cave and Elaina Johnson; a sister, Glenda Wade of Virginia and a sister-in-law, Velma Sadler of Belle as well as many numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Lorene is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Kenneth Drewel, parents Rev. A.B. and Bessie Sadler; siblings, Matthew, Lee Roy. A.B. Jr., Glen Sadler, Bessie Sadler Smith, and Ruth Sadler Bray.

Visitation for Lorene will be on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at the First Baptist Church of Belle from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Noble Hower officiating. Interment will be at Countryside Memorial Gardens in Caanan.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the First Baptist Church of Belle.