Betty Virginia Gillis Alder
Kilgore — Betty Virginia Gillis Alder, age 72, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, January 13, 2017. Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 14, 2017 at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore, TX.
Betty was born September 25, 1944, on Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, to Bonnie Mae and Charles F. Gillis. Betty went to grade school in Karnack and graduated from Marshall High School in 1962. Betty graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1965. She began teaching elementary while working on her Master’s Degree that she received from North Texas State University in 1969. Betty was a member of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society for Education. She taught 2nd and 3rd grades for 21 years before retiring. Many of her teaching years were spent at Sabine Elementary where she was awarded Globe Teacher of the Year in 1997. She was known for her passion for teaching, devotion to her family and love for children. Betty was an active member of both Longview First Baptist and Kilgore First Baptist churches. She was a member in the church choir and loved serving in the Special Ministries. She became a Certified Volunteer Chaplain in 1995. Betty had many friends and loved each and every one of them.
Betty is survived by her children, Michael Murphy and his wife Susan, Amy Childress, and Kathy Brown and her husband Michael; four grandchildren, Parker and Camden Brown, Thomas Murphy, and Allie Childress; brothers, Charles P. Gillis and his wife Jerri, and Fred Gillis and his wife Carol; and a great host of nieces and nephews.
Betty is preceded in death by her mother and father, Bonnie and Fred Gillis, and her beloved sister, Judith Gillis.
I am so very sorry to hear of Betty's death. She was such a sweet person. All the more reason for us to gather at our 55th reunion and love on one another.
Alvin Spell
Betty Virginia Gillis Alder
Kilgore — Betty Virginia Gillis Alder, age 72, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, January 13, 2017. Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 14, 2017 at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore, TX.
Betty was born September 25, 1944, on Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, to Bonnie Mae and Charles F. Gillis. Betty went to grade school in Karnack and graduated from Marshall High School in 1962. Betty graduated from Stephen F. Austin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1965. She began teaching elementary while working on her Master’s Degree that she received from North Texas State University in 1969. Betty was a member of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society for Education. She taught 2nd and 3rd grades for 21 years before retiring. Many of her teaching years were spent at Sabine Elementary where she was awarded Globe Teacher of the Year in 1997. She was known for her passion for teaching, devotion to her family and love for children. Betty was an active member of both Longview First Baptist and Kilgore First Baptist churches. She was a member in the church choir and loved serving in the Special Ministries. She became a Certified Volunteer Chaplain in 1995. Betty had many friends and loved each and every one of them.
Betty is survived by her children, Michael Murphy and his wife Susan, Amy Childress, and Kathy Brown and her husband Michael; four grandchildren, Parker and Camden Brown, Thomas Murphy, and Allie Childress; brothers, Charles P. Gillis and his wife Jerri, and Fred Gillis and his wife Carol; and a great host of nieces and nephews.
Betty is preceded in death by her mother and father, Bonnie and Fred Gillis, and her beloved sister, Judith Gillis.
Kay Blackmon (Moseley)
I am so very sorry to hear of Betty's death. She was such a sweet person. All the more reason for us to gather at our 55th reunion and love on one another.
Sherry Manning (Tiller)
So sorry for your loss, prayers with everyone, Betty was a very good person.
Robert W. (Billy) Kennedy
Very sorry to hear of Bettys passing. She was a special person. Our class will miss her. Prays for her family as they miss her more than anyone can.