Obituary
Clara (Bill) Gill was Promoted to Glory on March 19, 2018. Born to Violet Vick & Buddy Scott on November 1, 1942 in Fort Myers, Florida, Clara was the eldest of 10 children whom she helped to raise and support. She spent her teenage years with her sister Dorothy bringing the children of the neighborhood to the Lord at the local Salvation Army. In 1963, Clara married Terry Gill. They had three daughters, Kim (Lennie) Lucas, Donna (Tony) Whitmer and Kellie (Chuck) Young. Clara and Terry’s son, Bryan Todd, was taken to heaven before Clara was able to see him, we know she is now holding him in Glory.
Clara worked as a bookkeeper, manager and realtor, although her favorite job was working the Christmas stocking shop that she ran with her family in the Edison Mall. Her boisterous voice, filled with joy, would echo the halls of the mall with excitement for her favorite sacred holiday. Clara lived her life practicing “JOY”, Jesus first, Yourself last and Others in between. She would often walk up to people and lift their spirits; she knew no strangers. If she saw a child with special needs, instead of shying away like most would, she would make it a point to acknowledge them and ask them how their day was going. And, tell the parents how blessed they were.
Clara was known at Central United Methodist Church in Fort Myers for bringing her grandchildren to church, she was most proud when all the grandchildren visited, and she would need multiple cars to get them to church to worship with her. She was a grandmother that wanted to ensure that each of their souls were brought to the Lord in the church where her family had worshiped Christ for generations. Ma would talk to the grandkids and explained why life played out the way it did and ensured them that there would be nothing that they would face alone, as God was always with them. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew that Ma and Papa’s home was a warm place for them to visit, play, eat and talk. There was never a person that was turned away from their home, only welcomed in as one of their own. The pantry was always full of food and the freezer was stocked with ice cream, which Ma was known to serve for breakfast.
Clara left many grandchildren, Tonya (Travis Lyonnaise) Gill, Lorrie (Cody) Rhoden, Dalton Whitmer, Philip (Nicole) Young, Allison Whitmer, Alyssa Whitmer, Dustin Young and Brandi Lucas. She also had three great-granddaughters Camren, Emma & Holly, whom she loved beyond all imagination. She leaves behind siblings Dorothy (Jay) Gill, Linda (David) Smith, Larry (Karen) Scott, Ernie (Jan) Scott, Jack (Susan) Gentry, Georgia Vick, Frances (Shirley) Vick and Richard Scott.
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