Clara Jo Shope Gillis

October 23, 1926 ~ March 2, 2013
Resided in:
Fletcher, NC
Fletcher – Clara Jo Shope Gillis, 86, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2013.
A native of Buncombe County, she was the daughter of the late William K. and Clara Ann Robinson Shope. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Allen Stanley "Doc" Gillis, who died in 1989, a son, Kevin Stanley Gillis and a grandson, Timothy Gillis. She also was preceded in death by her siblings, Annie Thomas, Rosalie Connor, Kathleen Ledbetter, Joyce Burleson, William Kelly Shope, Jr. and Mary Ward Shope.
Mrs. Gillis was a retired inspector with Gerber Baby Products with 25 years of service and was a faithful member of Reynolds Baptist Church. She had lived in Buncombe County most of her life, moving to Fletcher 3 years ago and making her home with her daughter Kathy Johnston and her husband, Sammy, who cared for her for the past six months.
She is survived by five children, Al Gillis and his wife, Alice, Eric Gillis and his wife, Lora, Phil Gillis and his wife, Shirley, Kathy Johnston and her husband, Sammy and Alison Pressley and her husband, Charley. She also is survived by nine grandchildren, Keith Gilliam and his wife, Debbie, Kelly Laughter and her husband Shane, Sam Johnston and his wife, Marina, Kevin Gillis, Kim Taylor, Kristi Bost and her husband, Scott, Erica Pope and her husband, Jared, and Tiffany Gillis and eight great grandchildren, Katy Laughter, Tyler Koon, Kyle Gilliam, Kendall Gilliam, Kaylie Taylor, Garret Taylor, Aiden Taylor and Amelia Johnston.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM Monday at Ashelawn Gardens of Memory conducted by the Rev. Bobby Smith.
The family would like to express their thanks to the staff of Four Seasons Hospice and especially to Shelley Connor.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Reynolds Baptist Church Building Fund, 520 Rose Hill Road, Asheville, NC 28803-8544.
Our love and prayers are with you all during this time of sorrow.
love,
Blaine, Tammy and girls
Tiff and Erica – so sorry for the loss of your Mammaw. Will be keeping ya’ll and the rest of your family in my prayers.
i miss you. hug pappaw for me.
Lisa and I extend our deepest sorrows to you Alison, Charley and rest of family. We hope you find comfort knowing your Mom is pain free now and in God’s tender hands. May he also wrap his arms around you all and comfort you.
You introduced me to the dogwood flower with a beautiful silver ring right after my sister married your son. Your generous heart will be missed by many. I’m glad to have known you.
Kathy,our prayers are with you during this time in the loss of your precious Mom.May our Lord give you comfort during this time. To all of your family we extend our prayers and a peace that only our Savior can give at this time. To Kathy and Sammy, we love you both.
Alison, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. All my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Lora and Eric,
My thoughts and prayers are with each of your family members at this time. Love, Eloise
Sorry to learn of Ms. Gillis’ death. Thinking about you and wishing you peace at this sad time.
Jim
Our deepest sympathy for your loss. She will certainly be missed.
Love,
Roger and Sheryl
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Gillis family. May your memories in time put a smile on your face, and peace in your hearts.
Allison and Charley, my thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of your family as you go through the days ahead. I am so very sorry for your loss, but I know that you find comfort in knowing that your sweet Mama is with Jesus now and is pain free. Please let me know if I can do anything for either of you. Love you, Linda Berry
So sorry for your loss. Ms Clara was such a wonderful soul. I will cherish the memories I have of her when we went to Grassy Branch. May God wrap His loving arms around your family.
So sorry for your loss. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Love you all very much.
Dear family, Mrs. Gillis was a precious, loving, Christian lady. Her influence reached far beyond the neighborhood or workplace. She had a steady peacefulness and inspiring faith. Her patience and teachings showed in the way she brought up her children. She once spoke personally to me re: the loss of a loved one. She remarked that heaven seemed a million miles closer when a loved one was on the other side. I am glad that she was part of my life.
May God give you peace and sweet memories, letting Him be the center of your lives, as you look forward to being reunited with her.
Sincerely, Phyllis
Allison, Kathy, Al & Family, my prayers are with you during this time. You have a great loss, but Heaven has gained another precious Mother home. Thankful that she is no longer suffering and she is home with her Lord and with her family and friends. I have such fond memories of Clara from childhood. She was a special friend to Mom. May God continue to give you Grace and Peace. Love, Betty Yarborough Henn
Thinking of you during this tough time. We are praying for ya’ll
Our sincerest condolences to the Gillis family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Please know that your mother/grandmother is now resting peacefully in the arms of Jesus. God’s blessing to all.
Linda and Jim Stansberry
Allison I am so sorry for your loss, may god bless you and your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. If you need anything please call me.
I can always see Clra at Grassy Branch Church, so faithful and loveing to her Lord, family and frinds.God Bless.
Alison&Charley We are sorry for your loss and are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Please accept my sincere sympathy on the death of your mother and know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
I am so sorry to hear of Aunt Clara’s passing. I know there are no words that can take away the sorrow you are all feeling, but just know that she is in a better place, free of all the pain, reunited with her loved ones who have gone before her, and in the safe arms of the Lord. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I love you.
So sorry to hear of the death of Clara. She was a very special lady and I will miss her. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Please let me know if you need anything. Sorry I will not be able to attend the service, but I will be praying for you during this difficult time.
Alison and all your family. My Prays go out to all of you. If you need anything or just to talk I’m here.
Kathy & Allison, I am sorry to hear about you Mom. Your family will be in my prayers.
I am sorry for your loss. The family is in my prayers. Remember, she will always live within you.
Kathy, I know we don’t really know each other real well however after taking care of my mom for 6 yrs I truly know how it feels to lose a precious mother you have my sym. & you are in my prayers & thoughts.Barbara Moore, Fletcher First Baptist
Sorry to hear about your Mom. We know that she went home to be with our Lord. One day you will see her again. Even though you are very sad, you know she is very happy and at peace.
Lots of Love,
Bunny & Al Berdeski
We are so sorry for your lose. She will be dearly missed. Our prayers are with all the Gillis’ Family. Wished we could have been there but Tom had doctors appts. we couldnt cancel. Love you all.
My Dear Aunt Clara, I am so sorry I did not get to come and visit before you passed away. You were a wonderful Aunt and so precious to our family. My sisters and I were always excited to have you visit our farm in Barnardsville with your family. I will never forget how close you and my Mother(Joy) were and the stories you both use to tell about your childhood, especially the mischievous pranks my Mother pulled on you. I loved hearing them all! God Bless you and give both my parents a hug when you see them. I am sure you and all your sisters, along with Pappaw, Mammaw, Doc,
little Bit, and Timmy are celebrating in Heaven! Love you forever, Sandy
Gillis Family, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Clara was a wonderful and true friend to Jeannette. We were always appreciative of the time and love she extended to her. I know she will be missed by many.