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Melba Gilliland Obituary
Melba Elaine (Schmitz) Gilliland, 94, of Ursa, passed away at 1:25 am Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at her daughter's home in Ursa, IL.
There will be no services.
Arrangements for cremation are under the direction of the O'Donnell-Cookson Life Celebration Home in Quincy.
Melba was born March 7, 1928, in Carthage, IL to Lawrence Gail and Stella D. (Starr) Schmitz.
She was married to Loren E. Gilliland on February 22, 1948, at the Vermont Street Methodist Church Parsonage in Quincy, IL. They recently celebrated 74 love filled years of marriage. He survives.
Other survivors include her siblings, Reece E. Schmitz (Janette) of Keokuk, IA, Ronald K. Schmitz (K) of Houston, TX, and Howard Leith Schmitz (Alice) of Franklin Park, IL; children, Cassandra E. (Gilliland) Oenning of Ursa, IL, Gregory Brent Gilliland (Vera) of Irondale, AL, and Michele Gilliland of Quincy, IL; grandchildren, Karen Edgar (Brett), Christine Todd (Chad), Heather Gilliland, Nathan Gilliland and step grandchildren; great-grandchildren Brittani Cook (Tim), Brandon Edgar, Cristen Todd and Caitlyn Todd, Kaedyn Gilliland, and step great grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren Jackson, Kaylee, Cody, Kiersten, and Garrett; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Melba was preceded in death by her parents, In-laws Cecil & Erma Gilliland, Brother Loren L. Schmitz; sister-in-law Forrest Schmitz, son-in-law Bobby R. Oenning; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Wayne E. & Joann (Vonburg) Gilliland.
Melba graduated from Hamilton, IL High School in 1946. She entered nurses training at Blessing Hospital while raising her family. She was a caregiver to several area families including Dr. Hildegarde Germann Sinnock. Melba was a member of the Paloma, IL Home Extension. Loren and Melba retired to Olathe, CO in 1994 where they enjoyed many years of gardening and socializing with numerous friends and their church family. They returned to Illinois in 2020 to be with family and enjoy their friends here. They joined Salem Lutheran Church in Mendon, IL. They reside with their daughter outside of Ursa, IL.
Memorial contributions may be made to Blessing Hospice.
Online condolences may be shared, and video tribute may be viewed at www.ODonnellCookson.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Melba Gilliland
Sponsored by O'Donnell-Cookson Life Celebration Home.
1 Entry
Carol Mohrman Manassah
April 20, 2022
Extending my sympathy to you, knowing that Melba was a trusted cleaning professional for my grandfather Wilbur Mohrman in his later years. He had given her a small box of a few of my grandmother´s items, and years later, she was kind enough to locate me so that she could pass them on to me. It was a much appreciated gesture. Her good works and sincerity will never be forgotten. It was a pleasure to have known Melba.
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O'Donnell-Cookson Life Celebration Home1435 State Street, Quincy, IL 62301
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