Nancy Gilmore

32,338 days
That's how long Nancy Louise Fitzpatrick-Gilmore was on this earth. She died on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at OSF Emergancy Department from a heart attack. I've always hated reading someone's obituary and never knowing for sure how they died. So I'm putting it right up front. Usually you end up guessing from the "in lieu of flowers donate to " post script. I admire people directing donations to an animal rescues, a homeless shelter, or a food pantry. That tells you more about how they lived than how they died. In lieu of flowers for Nancy just do something nice for someone else and think of her. Something like leaving an over-sized tip to a struggling waitress. (She liked Grecian Gardens) Take a minute and talk to lonely senior; old people are usually interesting. And if they're not that interesting usually they're entertaining. It's a win – win.
The basics: Mom was born on August 20, 1935 to Henry James & Blanch Marie Fitzpatrick. Mom and Dad were married on September 5, 1954. She married Jacob (Jake) Earl Gilmore. They had 3 children – Barry Jacob, Kelly James, and Holly Berlyn. Mom is survived by her sister Wilma Lee McCord (Auntie to us), her 3 children, daughter-in-law Leah Gilmore, 2 grandchildren (Isaac Jacob James Gilmore Keifer and Gabriella Berlyn Grace Vinson, and her ex-husband.
Mom was colorful. She was funny, charismatic, and very entertaining. The first job that I remember her having was at the Chillicothe Dairy Queen. I doubt that she worked there very long but that memory sticks. She also worked as an Interior Designer for Deitrich's Furniture in Morton. She always had a flair for decorating. She could take $100 and make it look like a million bucks.
Mom was a born-again Christian. When we were little we attended Chillicothe Bible Church. After that we went to Grace Presbyterian Church for years. She held and went to many bible classes. She traveled around the United States to different Christian gatherings studying the bible. She wrote several short theological books over the years. Many people from around the world found comfort in Mom's writings.
Mom lived in the house she was born in on 2nd Street in Chillicothe. She loved being on her front porch watching the "goings on" up town. Nicer weather she would plant a chair in the front yard and wave to passers-by. Every parade over the past 8 decades marched pass her house. It was always a gathering spot.
Thanks Mom. We miss you.