Each of us is born like a seed—scattered to different corners of the earth with the innate potential to blossom. Some seeds, even when they hold within them the very blueprint of life, succumb to the exhausting gales of hardship; while others, like ancient oaks, stand resilient through every season. This is the story of Dr. Gladys McGarey, whose 103 years became a testament to the beauty of life, health, and joy. Her journey reminds us that even as circumstances change, hope remains as constant as a mighty tree.
Born on November 30, 1920, in Fatehgarh, India, Gladys Louise entered the world as the daughter of two visionary healers, Dr. John Taylor and Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Taylor. Leaving their hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, they ventured to the remote corners of India, setting up humble tents to provide free medical care where modern clinics were nowhere to be found. Their selfless work, even earning the admiration of Mahatma Gandhi, instilled in young Gladys the belief that the truest form of service is found in caring for those in need.
But life wasn’t always gentle. As a child, Gladys faced harsh ridicule from peers who, misunderstanding her struggles with dyslexia, labeled her “foolish.” Yet, fate had a powerful lesson waiting. One day, a patient arrived at their modest tent with a wounded elephant—the cherished companion of a local dignitary. Although her mother wasn’t a veterinarian, she couldn’t ignore the animal’s suffering and tended to its wounds with heartfelt care. Watching the elephant heal transformed Gladys’s perspective, replacing her disdain for school with a burning desire to heal others. Inspired by her mother’s empathy, she decided that medicine would be her lifelong calling—a way to mend hearts and bodies.
That inner light led Gladys to the United States, where she graduated from Muskingum University and later pursued her studies at the Pennsylvania Women’s Medical College—a rare accomplishment at a time when few women entered the field. As the sole female intern at Deaconess Hospital in 1946, she faced gender bias and isolation head-on, her determination lighting the way for generations of future women in medicine.
In 1943, destiny intertwined her path with Dr. William McGarey at Cincinnati’s Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Their bond was more than romantic—it was a union of kindred spirits united by a shared passion for holistic healing. Together, they founded the Scottsdale Holistic Medical Center in Arizona, championing a vision in which mind, body, and spirit work in concert to achieve true wellness. Their collaborative spirit served as a beacon of hope, reminding us that medicine is as much an art as it is a science.
As a mother of six, a devoted partner, and a pioneering doctor, Gladys mastered the delicate balance of life’s many roles. In her memoir, The Well-Lived Life, she shares how love, self-compassion, and setting healthy boundaries can transform overwhelming challenges into moments of grace. When exhaustion crept in, she’d simply say, “I don’t have the energy for that,” choosing instead to focus her vitality on endeavors that nourished her soul and deepened her connections. Even when burdens mounted, she trusted that every genuine moment of connection held the power to heal.
Life, however, was not without its sorrows. At 70, after 46 years of partnership, her beloved William left her for another—a loss that struck her personal and professional worlds. In the wake of this heartbreak, Gladys found solace in her steadfast faith. Remembering the comforting verse, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” she even emblazoned her car with a “BE GLAD” plate—a quiet declaration to channel her energy toward love, forgiveness, and renewal. Through that pain, she learned that every trial carries the seed of growth, and every ending can be the beginning of something new.
Dr. Gladys McGarey’s philosophy is simple yet profound: true health extends beyond the physical—it embraces the mind, body, and spirit as one harmonious whole. A devoted advocate of holistic medicine, she taught us that our inner world and spiritual balance are as important as physical well-being. In The Well-Lived Life, she lays out six key principles for living a healthy, joyful life. These principles reveal that living with passion not only brings happiness but also strengthens our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Every action, she reminds us, should be meaningful—aligned with our inner selves and our life’s purpose.
Though Dr. McGarey left the physical world on September 28, 2024, her luminous spirit lives on. As the saying goes, “True death occurs when no one remembers a person,” and in every life she touched, her legacy endures. Her teachings continue to inspire us to unlock our potential, live purposefully, and nurture the enduring light of health and happiness.
In her life and her words, Dr. Gladys McGarey showed us that to live well is to embrace every moment with gratitude, to heal not just the body but the soul, and to always choose to be glad—even in the face of adversity.
