Angels carried her on wings, to His promised mansion. Eleanor (Petie) Florence  Gilliam passed away on Dec. 26 in Puyallup, Washington. She was born on Aug. 29, 1927 in  Randall, Minnesota to August and Henrietta Mohr.

She was preceded in death by seven other siblings, her second husband, Leslie Wilson Gilliam and her first  husband William (Bill) Lester Pierce. She is survived by her one remaining sister, Hilda Braatz of Wabasha, Minnesota, her daughter, Kathy (Pierce) Quilici and husband Michael of Manteca, her son, David Wayne Pierce and wife Sheila of

Pittsburg, California.Petie was blessed with four grandchildren: Michael Vincent Quilici, Joseph Pierce, Lisa Marie (Quilici) Picarello and Jessica (Pierce) Tillery.

Her last visit to California was joyously filled with meeting her three great-granddaughters: Arabella Lynn Tillery, Lily Taylor Quilici and Sophia Rose Tillery.

Petie is also survived by her loving daughter-in-law, Jean Hirt of Spanaway, Washington with whom she shared her life, laughter and love for over ten years. Jean gave Petie the same tender care throughout that time as if Petie was her own mother.

   She will be remembered for her wit, laughter and love of life – no matter what challenges were sent her way and her great love of family and friends. She loved sharing her hand-made knitted dish cloths, her recipe for “Grandma’s Peanut Brittle” and her specialty, homemade maple nut ice cream. She was the first to tell a good story, lend a helping hand and usually the first one to yell, “Bingo!”

Her light and gentle smile will be missed daily.

“We shall find peace. We shall hear the angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.” ~ A. Chekhov

A “Celebration of Life” for Petie will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM., at her daughter

Kathy Quilici’s home in Manteca. Friends and family are invited. Petie found great comfort in her home church. Please send any memorial donations to: Peace Lutheran, 214 E. Pioneer, Puyallup, Washington  98372, in care of Reverand Ronald Kempe.



Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, January 24, 2012