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Lorina Gillen
In Memory of
Lorina Marie
Gillen
1927 - 2017
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Garnand Funeral Home - Garden City
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Steve and Vonda Gill
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Obituary for Lorina Marie Gillen

Lorina Marie Gillen, 89, formerly of Ulysses, Kansas left her physical body amidst the songs of her children, Sunday morning, April 2, 2017, in Farmington, New Mexic,o to be with her Lord Jesus, her parents Charles Ezekiel and Bonita Alda Witty, her husband Herbert Nash Gillen, and their first born son which died at birth, Herbert Bruce Gillen, who all passed on before her. She was born June 3, 1927, in La Grande, Oregon, and is the eldest in a family of 5 siblings, all of whom are still alive and living in Oregon (Carol Spears, Joe, Johnny, David, and Benny Witty). They lived on a humble farm in a one room, always freshly swept dirt floor house that was located on the Big Bend of the Snake River near Adrian, Oregon. Working hard, walking to school along ditch banks and across fast moving deep irrigation canals, going to Sunday School and summer church camp, family time, loving the Lord and singing songs were a major part of her life growing up.

Against the counsel of her parents’ peers, but believing that even women should have a college education, and with great financial sacrifice, Charles and Bonita sent their eldest daughter, Lorina and her sister Carol to Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas where Lorina graduated in1949 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. It was there she met and married Herbert Gillen and remained together until his passing on November of 2002. Together they lived in Bloom, Ford, and finally in Ulysses, Kansas giving birth to and raising 7 children who in turn gave her 9 grandchildren and in turn gave her 9 grea- grandchildren.

Lorina loved her family with the same fierceness she loved the Lord. She taught, defended, and protected her family. For many years she belonged to Music Club and almost always was participating in a Bible study. Some of her lifelong friendships started from a Bible study. Her strong alto voice could be heard singing in church choir or in a duet or trio with her daughters. For several years, Lorina drove a carload of special needs kids to their school and then helped teach them in the classroom with love and dedication. With her family so far away in southeastern Oregon, she always made an effort every year to visit them. Some of you may not know that Lorina played the trumpet and also the harmonica.

Lorina, or Nina as her family called her, is survived by her brothers and sister, Carol Spears of Vale, Oregon, Joe Witty and wife Carolyn of Adrian Oregon, Benny Witty and wife Elma of Adrian, Oregon, John Witty and wife Ilse of Adrian Oregon, David Witty of Nyssa Oregon. She is also survived by her children, Barbara Moore and husband Marvin Moore of Farmington New Mexico, Colleen Harms of Wichita, Kansas, Bruce Gillen and wife Rhonda Gillen of Edgewood, New Mexico, Richard Gillen of Ontario, Oregon, John Gillen and wife P J Gillen of Farmington, New Mexico, Alice Borja and husband Armando Borja of Denver, Colorado, Shari Howard and husband Bill Howard of Bloomfield, New Mexico. Grandchildren, Greg and wife Ann Harms, Wichita, Kansas, Trisha and husband Daniel Logan, Wichita, Kansas, Mindy and husband Tim Wise, Lebanon, Ohio, Jeff and wife Liz Harms, Johnson, Kansas, Timothy Gillen, Edgewood, New Mexico, John and wife Chelsea Gillen, Sterling, Kansas, Allen Moore, Farmington, New Mexico, Thomas Howard, Bloomfield, New Mexico, and Lauren Howard, Bloomfield, New Mexico. Great Grandchildren, Kyle, Ryan, and Caleb Harms, Blake and Ashlyn Logan, Alexander and Wesley Wise, and Elijah and Jocelyn Harms. Also, preceding her in death was her son in law, Jim Harms, and brother in law Bill Spears.

Funeral services will be Saturday, April 8, 2017, at 2:00 PM at Country View Baptist Church in Ulysses, Kansas with Pastor James Berry officiating. Interment will follow at the Ulysses Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday, April 7, 2017, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home. Family suggests memorials be given to the Country View Baptist Church or Namaste House in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave., Ulysses, KS 67880.
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