Mildred Brooks Gilliland

Mildred Gilliland, 96, of Liberty, died Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at Sycamore Springs Rehabilitation Center in Liberty. Mildred was born in Richmond, May 6, 1917, to Clay C. and Opal Jane Nicholson Brooks. She married Carl C. Gilliland in Richmond on August 10, 1935, and enjoyed fifty-six years of marriage. Mildred worked at Perfect Circle / Dana Corporation in Richmond supervising the stock room. Following her retirement, she opened Mid’s Fashions, a dress shop in Liberty. Mildred was a member of the Central United Methodist Church of Richmond, but most recently attended Edwards Memorial United Methodist Church in Liberty. She was also a member of the Eastern Star of Richmond for over seventy years. Mildred was known for her letter writing, corresponding with numerous soldiers serving abroad and anyone she knew who was away from home, often using three hundred fifty to four hundred stamps each year. Family and friends received a birthday and/or anniversary card from Mildred every year without fail. Mildred was well known for her wide array of hats, and wore one everywhere she went. She also collected mustache cups. Mildred loved square dancing with her husband Carl, but her first priority was always her family. Mildred is survived by a daughter, Kay (Frank) Parks of Liberty; six grandchildren: Jamie (Barry) Harvey of Liberty, Kelli VanDeman of Fairland, Indiana, Jay (Ann) Standish of Bolingbrook, Illinois, Craig (Karen) Standish of Muncie, Rae (Joe) Andreini of Appleton, Wisconsin, and Becky (Paul) Savard of Gladstone, Michigan; fourteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, and her husband who died on December 28, 1991, Mildred was preceded in death by a son, Ray Gilliland; a daughter, Jayne Standish; a grandson, Bryan Hutchings; a step-grandson, Bruce Parks; four brothers: Howard, Harold, Harland, and Duane Brooks; three sisters: Roberta Shaffer, Geanell Carman and Billi Rodefeld. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 5th, at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Fosdick Chapel, Liberty, with Rev. Scott Bell of Edwards Memorial United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow in West Point Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday where memorial contributions can be made to the Buckaroo 4H Club. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.