Laticia Gillen

1967 - 2024

MOUNTAIN VIEW - Laticia Baldridge Gillen, 56, passed away Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024.

Laticia Dianne Baldridge, Richter, Odom and Gillen, these were the names given to her during her lifetime, and each one holds a special meaning. In her words, "I'm kind of a big deal."

Born on Dec. 29, 1967, to Susan Ballard Baldridge and the late Danny Baldridge Sr., she grew up in Gosnell and graduated from Gosnell High School where she made many lifelong friends.

Soon after, she met her first husband, Dan Richter who gave her two beautiful children, Zach Richter and Kynndell Richter Miller. Next, she married again, and from that came another precious boy, Devon Odom and she became his bonus mom.

She then graduated from Three Rivers Nursing School with her associate in nursing degree, at the top of her class. She worked as a registered nurse for AllCare HomeCare for the last 10 years. Her final name was given to her by Matt Gillen who stayed by her side from day one caring for her and loving her until she was awarded her wings on Feb. 8, 2024.

To know her is to love her. She lights up a room like no other. After meeting her you seriously can't get enough time with her. She makes you feel like you're the most important person in her life when she's in front of you. She's the keeper of all secrets, the answer to all questions. The calm to your storm. She is your best friend, mentor, protector, disciplinarian and counselor all rolled into one person. There will never be another Tish Gillen. That's why she got it right when she said, she's kinda of a big deal.

She was preceded in death by her father, Danny Baldridge, and her grandparents, Rita Humphrey, Raymond Baldridge, Stella Ballard and Lawrence Ballard.

She is survived by her husband, Matt Gillen of the home; mother, Susan (Jack) Charles; grandmother, Betty Baldridge; three children, Zach (Alesha) Richter, Kynndell Miller and Devon (Molly) Odom; two stepdaughters, Blythe (Jeremy) Mullins and Haley (Jordan) Davis; grandchildren, Ian, Nate Richter, Preston, Rip Miller, Joseph Odom, Kimber Davis, Gunnar Mullins and Reid Mullins; two brothers, Danny (Heather) Baldridge and Ryan Baldridge; three sisters, Sonia (Ted) Boling, Jessica (James) Chandler and Candis (Brett) Stephens; lots of nieces and nephews aunts, uncles, cousins; and more friends than you could imagine.

Tish wants you all to know she is safe and pain-free and walking with our Savior and will see us all tomorrow.

The visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at Gregg-Langford Bookout Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with J.F. Smith officiating. Interment will be at 1 p.m. in the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery at Birdeye.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Danny Baldridge, Ryan Baldridge, Tim Britt, Chris Dotson, Shane McBride and Ron Sellers.

Online registry: www.greggfh.com