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Lillian J. Giles
Lillian Giles dies at 101
A Mass of Christian Burial for Lillian “G.G.” Josephine Giles, 101, of Vacaville in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Vacaville, was held May 10. The Rev. James Murphy officiated. Burial followed in the Winters Cemetery.
Mrs. Giles died May 7, 1991 in NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield after an illness.
Born Feb. 16, 1890, in a farmhouse in Grafton, Walsh County, Grafton, North Dakota, she moved to Vacaville nine years ago. She was a gourmet cook for many years in Deluth, Minnesota. She had her autobiography, “100 Years with Lillie” published in 1990. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the McBride Senior Center.
Mrs. Giles was preceded in death by her son, George, and 10 brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her daughters, Marjorie Stepnes of San Jose and Rhoda Laughy of Vacaville; daughter-in-law, Violet Giles of Ruskin, Florida; sister, Eleanor Mausten of Minneapolis; ten grandchildren, including Katheryn Pranke of Winters; 20 great-grandchildren including Brett and Stephanie Gruben of Winters; 10 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the donor’s favorite charity.
GILL
George Herbert "Herb" Gill
George "Herb" Gill passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2002 in his Winters home. Born on Dec. 23, 1914, in San Diego, he was 87 years old.
Herb graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1938, with a degree in electronic and mechanical engineering. As a professional engineer he made significant contributions in developing aircraft, missiles, naval undersea research, as well as solar energy and other commercial engineering applications. He also shaped his knowledge as a teacher at the University of Kansas, University of New Mexico and D. Q. University. He authored two technical books, 14 patents and numerous magazine articles.
Herb loved prospecting, fishing, boating and his wife and family above all else. His family will always treasure the memories in Winters and the vicinity for 18 years.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Virginia, of Winters; children Richard Gill of Bakersfield, Mary Thomason of West Jordan, Utah and Elizabeth Siracusa of Winters. He is also survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Oct. 28, at Smith's Colonial Chapel in Winters. Burial followed at the Winters Cemetery.
Because Herb loved research, reading and sharing knowledge, his family suggests remembrances be made in his name to the Winters friends of the Library.
GILLESPIE
Luella 'Lou' Dee Gillespie
Luella "Lou" Dee Gillespie of Roseville died in Sacramento Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005 at age 72.
Luella was born Sept. 2, 1932 in Roswell, N.M. She had been a Woodland resident for two years. She was retired from Los Angeles County after 27 years of service and was an EKG technician at Hi-Desert Hospital in Lancaster.
Luella loved her family and loved to be surrounded by them, especially during the holiday seasons. She loved gardening, sewing, needle work and going to the movies. She was a wonderful mother and sister and will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends.
Survivors include Luella's daughter, Valerie Bair of Roseville; her son, Michael Dunn of Libby, Mont.; her grandchildren, Deanna St. Amour of Mesa, Ariz. and Douglas McKeon of Roseville; three great-grandchildren; her sisters, Lea Hall of Berry Creek, Calif., Alva Elliott of Kealakekua, Hawaii and Betty Domitrovich of Hobbs, N.M.; her brother, Robert Roberts of Manley Hot Springs, Ark. and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and several sisters and brothers.
Services: A graveside service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, March 4 at Cottonwood Cemetery in Madison with the Reverend Alva Elliott officiating. A celebration of Luella's life will be held in Davis at 2314 East Eighth St. Chapel of the Valley in Citrus Heights is assisting the family with arrangements.
GILLETTE
Sydni K. Gillette (1st of 2 obituaries)
Sydni was born July 15, 1947 and died at home March 24, 2005 after a long battle with breast cancer.
Sydni was a Woodland native. She attended local schools and graduated from Woodland High School in 1965. She attended secretarial school in San Francisco after which she began working for UC Davis. She was employed at UC Davis until December, when her illness forced her to take a leave of absence.
Friends and family know that Sydni loved to shop! Shoes, clothes, jewelry, holiday decorations, anything. She also loved to travel and celebrate holidays. Anytime anyone went anywhere, she was the first one ready to go. She enjoyed old cars and craft shows and if you could combine the two it was even better.
She is survived by her daughter, Tamara Young; long-time companion, Bernard Hendrix Jr.; mother, Dorothy Wood and sister, Shirley Watts and husband Woody. Also, stepdaughter, Denise Teuscher and stepsons, Jeff Hendrix and wife Annisa, Simon Lang and wife Rhonda and Chuck Lang and wife Harper. Sydni had six grandchildren, Trevor and Ethan Young, Kaylee and Brad Teuscher, Charles Lang and Chanise Hendrix.
Sydni also leaves numerous nieces and nephews.
Sydni was preceded in death by husband Stephen Gillette; father, Sidney Wood and grandmother, Maude Myers as well as numerous aunts and uncles.
Memorials in Sydni's name can be made to Yolo Hospice or your favorite charity.
Services will be held at McNary's Chapel Friday, April 1 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow the service at Monument Hill Park. A celebration of Sydni's life will be held at the Carlton Club following the services. McNary's Chapel assisted the family with arrangements.
Sydni K. Gillette (2nd of 2 obits.)
Sydni K. Gillette died at her home in Woodland Thursday, March 24, 2005 at age 57.
Mrs. Gillette was born July 15, 1947 in Woodland. She attended local schools and graduated from Woodland High School in 1965. She attended secretarial school in San Francisco after which she began working for UC Davis. She was employed at UC Davis until December 2004.
Survivors include Mrs. Gillette's companion, Bernard Hendrix Jr.; her daughter, Tamara Young; her stepdaughter, Denise Teuscher; her stepsons, Jeff Hendrix and wife Annisa, Simon Lang and wife Rhonda and Chuck Lang and wife Harper; her grandchildren, Trevor and Ethan Young, Kaylee and Brad Teuscher, Charles Lang and Chanise Hendrix; her mother, Dorothy Wood; her sister, Shirley Watts and her husband Woody and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Gillette; her father, Sidney Wood and her grandmother, Maude Myers and numerous aunts and uncles.
The family requests memorials in Mrs. Gillette's name can be made to Yolo Hospice, P.O. Box 1014, Davis, 95617 or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Services: A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, April 1 at McNary's Chapel, 458 College St., Woodland. Burial will follow the service at Monument Hill Park. A celebration of Mrs. Gillette's life will be held at the Carlton Club following the services. McNary's Chapel assisted the family with arrangements.
GILLEY
Sandra Elizabeth Gilley
Sandra Elizabeth Gilley, a 32-year resident of Davis, died Thursday after a lengthy illness. She was 65.
Born Sept. 14, 1938, in Phoenix, she was raised in San Jose and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1956. She attended San Jose State University.
She marriage Curtiss William Gilley on July 12, 1958, and the couple moved to Davis in September 1972. The Gilleys were active in the Davis community.
A traveler, who also enjoyed water and snow skiing, Gilley's last trip was a Mediterranean cruise in 1998.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leroy Crowell, and by her in-laws Margaret and Ralph Gilley.
Survivors include her husband, Curtiss Gilley of Davis; her mother, Bertha Crowell; daughter and son-in-law Melissa and Jack Goldberg of Davis; son, Mark Gilley and his life partner Dave Gootee of Chicago; two sisters, Suzanne Kubinak and Nanette Dobrowski; grandson Kevin and his fianc/e Sheri of Davis; granddaughter Ryan of Davis; and great-grandson Jason of Davis.
She also will be missed by her friend and caregiver Carie Rushworth of Vacaville and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Davis Funeral Chapel, 116 D St. A rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral chapel.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church, 200 W. 14th St. The burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in her name to the National Kidney Foundation, 553 Pilgrim Drive, Suite C, Foster City, CA 94404.
Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Chapel.
GILLIS
James R. Gillis
James R. Gillis died Jan. 29, 2001, at Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento. Born in Wood-river, Ill. on Oct. 19, 1927, he was 73.
He graduated from Woodriver High School and then Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean conflict, then went to work as a foreign affairs agent for the CIA for 23 years. In later years he was a real estate agent in Davis for 20 years. He loved animals, birds and was a member of the Friends of the Davis Library.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Madeline Gillis of Davis.
He is survived by his son, John R. Gillis of St. Helena; his daughter, Carol Gillis of Vacaville; his brother, Hudson Gillis of Albuquerque, N.M., four nieces and four nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Friends of the Davis Library. At his request, no funeral is planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Chapel.
WOOD
Byron Lee Wood
Byron Lee Wood, a former Davis resident, died unexpectedly at his Folsom home Feb. 6, 2004. He was 57.
Born Dec. 19, 1946, in Lake Park, Iowa, he grew up in Davis, graduating with the Davis High School class of 1964. He earned his bachelor's degree in geography from San Francisco State College in 1969. In 1977 he received his master's degree in geography from UC Berkeley, where he went on to become a doctoral candidate.
For the past 22 years, he was employed by the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, where he specialized in remote sensing. He was a lecturer in remote sensing at both Cal and UC Davis from 1978 to 1987. He also authored numerous publications related to geography.
He was a member of the American Society of Photogrammerty and Remote Sensing (Northern California Chapter board member from 1984-85), Association of American Geographers and the Latin American Society of Remote Sensing.
Throughout his education and busy career, he remained an avid Cal Bears fan.
He is survived by his wife, Herlinda Acevedo, son, Nathaniel C. Wood of San Jose, and parents, Clifford and Dorothy Wood of Folsom.
At the request of his family, no services will be held.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in his name to: the Acevedo-Wood Trust for Nathaniel C. Wood, care of Wells Fargo Bank, 1250 Lincoln Ave., San Jose CA 95125.
Davis Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
