Shawnee, OK — Helen Frances (Brown) Gillin passed from this life at the age of 99 years and one day on Monday, April 28, 2008, in Muskogee.
Helen was born April 27, 1909, the tenth of eleven children born to George M. and Winnifred Tracy Utter Brown in Shawnee. She attended Bethel School in Pottawatomie County and received her lifetime teaching certificate from Oklahoma A & M College, Stillwater.
She was united in marriage to Roy Venson Gillin, January 18, 1930. To this union were born 8 children. Helen loved growing flowers and was an avid gardener. For over 50 years she was active in OSU Extension Homemakers and 4-H Club activities with her children and grandchildren, encouraging them, "to make the best better." Helen started her 4-H work in 1919 at age 14. Her quart jar of green beans, canned "log cabin style" helped win her train trip to the 1st National 4-H Congress held in Chicago. This jar of beans is still in perfect condition and was on display at the State Capital for two years. One of Helen's proudest moments came when the Roy and Helen Gillin family was named Farm Family of the Year in 1950 at the Muskogee State Fair. She wrote a journal daily to record life's blessings and history, and was an avid photographer, poet, short story writer, and historian.
Preceding her in death was her husband of 46 years, Roy, and her 10 siblings. Survivors include her children, LaVoy Gillin, George Gillin and Carole, Bruce Gillin, LaVonia Bright and Charley, Kenneth Gillin and Joyce, LaVon Lewis, LaRue York and LaNell Gillin, who has tenderly cared for her mother at the Gillin Homestead near Porter for the past 10 years; 21 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and two great great grandchildren, as well as sisters-in-law Ava Brown, Deer, Arkansas and Edna Brown of Shawnee, and cousin Raymond Utter of Shawnee, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
A visitation was held from 5-7 pm Friday at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner, who was in charge of arrangements. The funeral service was held at 11 am Saturday, May 3, 2008 at First Baptist Church in Porter where she was a member since 1950. The Reverend Dale Clayton and the Reverend Randy Harrington officiated. Pallbearers were grandsons, Keith Bright, Randy Gillin, Kenny Gillin, Kent Bright, Gary Butler, Greg Gillin, Jeffrey Gillin, Chad York, Roy Gillin II and Ashlee York. Honorary Pallbearers were H.V. Roberts, David Livesay, Roy Essary and Orville Muskgrave. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Porter. Family suggest tributes to Wagoner County 4-H, American Diabetes Assoc. or the Building Fund at First Baptist Church in Porter, OK.
Helen was born April 27, 1909, the tenth of eleven children born to George M. and Winnifred Tracy Utter Brown in Shawnee. She attended Bethel School in Pottawatomie County and received her lifetime teaching certificate from Oklahoma A & M College, Stillwater.
She was united in marriage to Roy Venson Gillin, January 18, 1930. To this union were born 8 children. Helen loved growing flowers and was an avid gardener. For over 50 years she was active in OSU Extension Homemakers and 4-H Club activities with her children and grandchildren, encouraging them, "to make the best better." Helen started her 4-H work in 1919 at age 14. Her quart jar of green beans, canned "log cabin style" helped win her train trip to the 1st National 4-H Congress held in Chicago. This jar of beans is still in perfect condition and was on display at the State Capital for two years. One of Helen's proudest moments came when the Roy and Helen Gillin family was named Farm Family of the Year in 1950 at the Muskogee State Fair. She wrote a journal daily to record life's blessings and history, and was an avid photographer, poet, short story writer, and historian.
Preceding her in death was her husband of 46 years, Roy, and her 10 siblings. Survivors include her children, LaVoy Gillin, George Gillin and Carole, Bruce Gillin, LaVonia Bright and Charley, Kenneth Gillin and Joyce, LaVon Lewis, LaRue York and LaNell Gillin, who has tenderly cared for her mother at the Gillin Homestead near Porter for the past 10 years; 21 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and two great great grandchildren, as well as sisters-in-law Ava Brown, Deer, Arkansas and Edna Brown of Shawnee, and cousin Raymond Utter of Shawnee, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
A visitation was held from 5-7 pm Friday at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner, who was in charge of arrangements. The funeral service was held at 11 am Saturday, May 3, 2008 at First Baptist Church in Porter where she was a member since 1950. The Reverend Dale Clayton and the Reverend Randy Harrington officiated. Pallbearers were grandsons, Keith Bright, Randy Gillin, Kenny Gillin, Kent Bright, Gary Butler, Greg Gillin, Jeffrey Gillin, Chad York, Roy Gillin II and Ashlee York. Honorary Pallbearers were H.V. Roberts, David Livesay, Roy Essary and Orville Muskgrave. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Porter. Family suggest tributes to Wagoner County 4-H, American Diabetes Assoc. or the Building Fund at First Baptist Church in Porter, OK.
Shawnee, OK — Helen Frances (Brown) Gillin passed from this life at the age of 99 years and one day on Monday, April 28, 2008, in Muskogee.
Helen was born April 27, 1909, the tenth of eleven children born to George M. and Winnifred Tracy Utter Brown in Shawnee. She attended Bethel School in Pottawatomie County and received her lifetime teaching certificate from Oklahoma A & M College, Stillwater.
She was united in marriage to Roy Venson Gillin, January 18, 1930. To this union were born 8 children. Helen loved growing flowers and was an avid gardener. For over 50 years she was active in OSU Extension Homemakers and 4-H Club activities with her children and grandchildren, encouraging them, "to make the best better." Helen started her 4-H work in 1919 at age 14. Her quart jar of green beans, canned "log cabin style" helped win her train trip to the 1st National 4-H Congress held in Chicago. This jar of beans is still in perfect condition and was on display at the State Capital for two years. One of Helen's proudest moments came when the Roy and Helen Gillin family was named Farm Family of the Year in 1950 at the Muskogee State Fair. She wrote a journal daily to record life's blessings and history, and was an avid photographer, poet, short story writer, and historian.
Preceding her in death was her husband of 46 years, Roy, and her 10 siblings. Survivors include her children, LaVoy Gillin, George Gillin and Carole, Bruce Gillin, LaVonia Bright and Charley, Kenneth Gillin and Joyce, LaVon Lewis, LaRue York and LaNell Gillin, who has tenderly cared for her mother at the Gillin Homestead near Porter for the past 10 years; 21 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and two great great grandchildren, as well as sisters-in-law Ava Brown, Deer, Arkansas and Edna Brown of Shawnee, and cousin Raymond Utter of Shawnee, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
A visitation was held from 5-7 pm Friday at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner, who was in charge of arrangements. The funeral service was held at 11 am Saturday, May 3, 2008 at First Baptist Church in Porter where she was a member since 1950. The Reverend Dale Clayton and the Reverend Randy Harrington officiated. Pallbearers were grandsons, Keith Bright, Randy Gillin, Kenny Gillin, Kent Bright, Gary Butler, Greg Gillin, Jeffrey Gillin, Chad York, Roy Gillin II and Ashlee York. Honorary Pallbearers were H.V. Roberts, David Livesay, Roy Essary and Orville Muskgrave. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Porter. Family suggest tributes to Wagoner County 4-H, American Diabetes Assoc. or the Building Fund at First Baptist Church in Porter, OK.
Helen was born April 27, 1909, the tenth of eleven children born to George M. and Winnifred Tracy Utter Brown in Shawnee. She attended Bethel School in Pottawatomie County and received her lifetime teaching certificate from Oklahoma A & M College, Stillwater.
She was united in marriage to Roy Venson Gillin, January 18, 1930. To this union were born 8 children. Helen loved growing flowers and was an avid gardener. For over 50 years she was active in OSU Extension Homemakers and 4-H Club activities with her children and grandchildren, encouraging them, "to make the best better." Helen started her 4-H work in 1919 at age 14. Her quart jar of green beans, canned "log cabin style" helped win her train trip to the 1st National 4-H Congress held in Chicago. This jar of beans is still in perfect condition and was on display at the State Capital for two years. One of Helen's proudest moments came when the Roy and Helen Gillin family was named Farm Family of the Year in 1950 at the Muskogee State Fair. She wrote a journal daily to record life's blessings and history, and was an avid photographer, poet, short story writer, and historian.
Preceding her in death was her husband of 46 years, Roy, and her 10 siblings. Survivors include her children, LaVoy Gillin, George Gillin and Carole, Bruce Gillin, LaVonia Bright and Charley, Kenneth Gillin and Joyce, LaVon Lewis, LaRue York and LaNell Gillin, who has tenderly cared for her mother at the Gillin Homestead near Porter for the past 10 years; 21 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and two great great grandchildren, as well as sisters-in-law Ava Brown, Deer, Arkansas and Edna Brown of Shawnee, and cousin Raymond Utter of Shawnee, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
A visitation was held from 5-7 pm Friday at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner, who was in charge of arrangements. The funeral service was held at 11 am Saturday, May 3, 2008 at First Baptist Church in Porter where she was a member since 1950. The Reverend Dale Clayton and the Reverend Randy Harrington officiated. Pallbearers were grandsons, Keith Bright, Randy Gillin, Kenny Gillin, Kent Bright, Gary Butler, Greg Gillin, Jeffrey Gillin, Chad York, Roy Gillin II and Ashlee York. Honorary Pallbearers were H.V. Roberts, David Livesay, Roy Essary and Orville Muskgrave. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Porter. Family suggest tributes to Wagoner County 4-H, American Diabetes Assoc. or the Building Fund at First Baptist Church in Porter, OK.
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