Services for Owen L Gillis, 80, Galveston, will be held at 2 pm Wednesday in Murray-Weaver Funeral . Home, Galveston chapel. He died at 4:25 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, in St. Joseph Hospital, Kokomo. He had endured a stroke in April 2006 and was succumbed by it on Aug.12, 2006
Born OcL 3,1925, in Fox, Ark, he was the son of Arlus E. and Rita Goodwin Gillis. He was married SepL 19,1953, to Mary "Ruth" Miller, who survives.
In 1959, Mr. Gillis built a new home and moved his family to Galveston, Indiana from Kokomo, Indiana so his children could have the benefit of living in a small, rural community. Making the new home "out in the country," gave his children room to romp.
Owen, or "Lee" as he was known, was a self-made man. He began his career in 1947 as the General Contractor for R.D. Robbins Development in Kokomo, Indiana. He had over 100 tradesmen on his payroll and through R. D. Robbins they built housing subdivisions across Kokomo, Indiana. He left R.D. Robbins Development in 1963 and started a very successful crane business that same year. In 1966 he purchased another crane. His crane work would take him to Illinois and Michigan for several months at a time. He retired the crane business in 1978. Around 1970 he contracted with Standard Oil and built Galveston's first Truck Stop located just outside of Galveston on U.S. 35 South. He built all his business upon a foundation of honesty and integrity, which served him well both professionally and personally. In addition to being a proud member of Howard Masonic Lodge #93 F&AM, he also enjoyed past and present fraternal memberships in the Eagles and Moose. After retirement, he and his wife Ruth spent many Winters in Florida.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter who loved the outdoors. From taking the family to Minnesota during the 1960's and early 70's to fish, to Hardin Ridge at Lake Monroe in Indiana to camp and fish during that same time period. He enjoyed his beagles to hunt rabbits, walking through woods to take some squirrels, and going to northern Indiana to pheasant hunt. He shared those hunting and fishing experiences with his younger son who to this day has the same passion for the outdoors. He had a lake cottage on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana for many, many years and enjoyed taking the family there each weekend during the summer months. He was an accomplished slalom skier when he was younger and passed that tradition on to his children. Of these children, the younger son still enjoys slalom skiing and as his father before him, has passed on that tradition. Through his hard work and dedication to his family, he created fond memories for each of his children. He touched each of his children in his own way and paved the way for what each of his children would do later in life.
We love you so much dad and will miss you always.
Also surviving are five children, Nancy Gillis, Walthill, Neb, Gary Gillis and his wife, Crystal, Crystal, Minn, Tamara Oden and her special friend, Jim Reed, Sweetser, Gerald Gillis and his wife, Sheila, Galveston, and Tina Hall and her fiancé, Carl Butler, Granger; a special mother-in-law, Georgia V Miller; Galveston; two sisters, Dora Jacobs and Faye Frye, both of Galveston; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. One brother, Edward Gillis, and a son-in-law, James Oden, preceded in death.
The Rev. Warren Purcell will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Galveston Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home, where Masonic services will be held at 7:30 pm.
source : 47378025
Born OcL 3,1925, in Fox, Ark, he was the son of Arlus E. and Rita Goodwin Gillis. He was married SepL 19,1953, to Mary "Ruth" Miller, who survives.
In 1959, Mr. Gillis built a new home and moved his family to Galveston, Indiana from Kokomo, Indiana so his children could have the benefit of living in a small, rural community. Making the new home "out in the country," gave his children room to romp.
Owen, or "Lee" as he was known, was a self-made man. He began his career in 1947 as the General Contractor for R.D. Robbins Development in Kokomo, Indiana. He had over 100 tradesmen on his payroll and through R. D. Robbins they built housing subdivisions across Kokomo, Indiana. He left R.D. Robbins Development in 1963 and started a very successful crane business that same year. In 1966 he purchased another crane. His crane work would take him to Illinois and Michigan for several months at a time. He retired the crane business in 1978. Around 1970 he contracted with Standard Oil and built Galveston's first Truck Stop located just outside of Galveston on U.S. 35 South. He built all his business upon a foundation of honesty and integrity, which served him well both professionally and personally. In addition to being a proud member of Howard Masonic Lodge #93 F&AM, he also enjoyed past and present fraternal memberships in the Eagles and Moose. After retirement, he and his wife Ruth spent many Winters in Florida.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter who loved the outdoors. From taking the family to Minnesota during the 1960's and early 70's to fish, to Hardin Ridge at Lake Monroe in Indiana to camp and fish during that same time period. He enjoyed his beagles to hunt rabbits, walking through woods to take some squirrels, and going to northern Indiana to pheasant hunt. He shared those hunting and fishing experiences with his younger son who to this day has the same passion for the outdoors. He had a lake cottage on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana for many, many years and enjoyed taking the family there each weekend during the summer months. He was an accomplished slalom skier when he was younger and passed that tradition on to his children. Of these children, the younger son still enjoys slalom skiing and as his father before him, has passed on that tradition. Through his hard work and dedication to his family, he created fond memories for each of his children. He touched each of his children in his own way and paved the way for what each of his children would do later in life.
We love you so much dad and will miss you always.
Also surviving are five children, Nancy Gillis, Walthill, Neb, Gary Gillis and his wife, Crystal, Crystal, Minn, Tamara Oden and her special friend, Jim Reed, Sweetser, Gerald Gillis and his wife, Sheila, Galveston, and Tina Hall and her fiancé, Carl Butler, Granger; a special mother-in-law, Georgia V Miller; Galveston; two sisters, Dora Jacobs and Faye Frye, both of Galveston; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. One brother, Edward Gillis, and a son-in-law, James Oden, preceded in death.
The Rev. Warren Purcell will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Galveston Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home, where Masonic services will be held at 7:30 pm.
source : 47378025
Services for Owen L Gillis, 80, Galveston, will be held at 2 pm Wednesday in Murray-Weaver Funeral . Home, Galveston chapel. He died at 4:25 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, in St. Joseph Hospital, Kokomo. He had endured a stroke in April 2006 and was succumbed by it on Aug.12, 2006
Born OcL 3,1925, in Fox, Ark, he was the son of Arlus E. and Rita Goodwin Gillis. He was married SepL 19,1953, to Mary "Ruth" Miller, who survives.
In 1959, Mr. Gillis built a new home and moved his family to Galveston, Indiana from Kokomo, Indiana so his children could have the benefit of living in a small, rural community. Making the new home "out in the country," gave his children room to romp.
Owen, or "Lee" as he was known, was a self-made man. He began his career in 1947 as the General Contractor for R.D. Robbins Development in Kokomo, Indiana. He had over 100 tradesmen on his payroll and through R. D. Robbins they built housing subdivisions across Kokomo, Indiana. He left R.D. Robbins Development in 1963 and started a very successful crane business that same year. In 1966 he purchased another crane. His crane work would take him to Illinois and Michigan for several months at a time. He retired the crane business in 1978. Around 1970 he contracted with Standard Oil and built Galveston's first Truck Stop located just outside of Galveston on U.S. 35 South. He built all his business upon a foundation of honesty and integrity, which served him well both professionally and personally. In addition to being a proud member of Howard Masonic Lodge #93 F&AM, he also enjoyed past and present fraternal memberships in the Eagles and Moose. After retirement, he and his wife Ruth spent many Winters in Florida.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter who loved the outdoors. From taking the family to Minnesota during the 1960's and early 70's to fish, to Hardin Ridge at Lake Monroe in Indiana to camp and fish during that same time period. He enjoyed his beagles to hunt rabbits, walking through woods to take some squirrels, and going to northern Indiana to pheasant hunt. He shared those hunting and fishing experiences with his younger son who to this day has the same passion for the outdoors. He had a lake cottage on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana for many, many years and enjoyed taking the family there each weekend during the summer months. He was an accomplished slalom skier when he was younger and passed that tradition on to his children. Of these children, the younger son still enjoys slalom skiing and as his father before him, has passed on that tradition. Through his hard work and dedication to his family, he created fond memories for each of his children. He touched each of his children in his own way and paved the way for what each of his children would do later in life.
We love you so much dad and will miss you always.
Also surviving are five children, Nancy Gillis, Walthill, Neb, Gary Gillis and his wife, Crystal, Crystal, Minn, Tamara Oden and her special friend, Jim Reed, Sweetser, Gerald Gillis and his wife, Sheila, Galveston, and Tina Hall and her fiancé, Carl Butler, Granger; a special mother-in-law, Georgia V Miller; Galveston; two sisters, Dora Jacobs and Faye Frye, both of Galveston; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. One brother, Edward Gillis, and a son-in-law, James Oden, preceded in death.
The Rev. Warren Purcell will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Galveston Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home, where Masonic services will be held at 7:30 pm.
source : 47378025
Born OcL 3,1925, in Fox, Ark, he was the son of Arlus E. and Rita Goodwin Gillis. He was married SepL 19,1953, to Mary "Ruth" Miller, who survives.
In 1959, Mr. Gillis built a new home and moved his family to Galveston, Indiana from Kokomo, Indiana so his children could have the benefit of living in a small, rural community. Making the new home "out in the country," gave his children room to romp.
Owen, or "Lee" as he was known, was a self-made man. He began his career in 1947 as the General Contractor for R.D. Robbins Development in Kokomo, Indiana. He had over 100 tradesmen on his payroll and through R. D. Robbins they built housing subdivisions across Kokomo, Indiana. He left R.D. Robbins Development in 1963 and started a very successful crane business that same year. In 1966 he purchased another crane. His crane work would take him to Illinois and Michigan for several months at a time. He retired the crane business in 1978. Around 1970 he contracted with Standard Oil and built Galveston's first Truck Stop located just outside of Galveston on U.S. 35 South. He built all his business upon a foundation of honesty and integrity, which served him well both professionally and personally. In addition to being a proud member of Howard Masonic Lodge #93 F&AM, he also enjoyed past and present fraternal memberships in the Eagles and Moose. After retirement, he and his wife Ruth spent many Winters in Florida.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter who loved the outdoors. From taking the family to Minnesota during the 1960's and early 70's to fish, to Hardin Ridge at Lake Monroe in Indiana to camp and fish during that same time period. He enjoyed his beagles to hunt rabbits, walking through woods to take some squirrels, and going to northern Indiana to pheasant hunt. He shared those hunting and fishing experiences with his younger son who to this day has the same passion for the outdoors. He had a lake cottage on Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana for many, many years and enjoyed taking the family there each weekend during the summer months. He was an accomplished slalom skier when he was younger and passed that tradition on to his children. Of these children, the younger son still enjoys slalom skiing and as his father before him, has passed on that tradition. Through his hard work and dedication to his family, he created fond memories for each of his children. He touched each of his children in his own way and paved the way for what each of his children would do later in life.
We love you so much dad and will miss you always.
Also surviving are five children, Nancy Gillis, Walthill, Neb, Gary Gillis and his wife, Crystal, Crystal, Minn, Tamara Oden and her special friend, Jim Reed, Sweetser, Gerald Gillis and his wife, Sheila, Galveston, and Tina Hall and her fiancé, Carl Butler, Granger; a special mother-in-law, Georgia V Miller; Galveston; two sisters, Dora Jacobs and Faye Frye, both of Galveston; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. One brother, Edward Gillis, and a son-in-law, James Oden, preceded in death.
The Rev. Warren Purcell will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Galveston Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home, where Masonic services will be held at 7:30 pm.
source : 47378025
