JUDY GILL

Judy was born on May 17, 1948, to Flave and Louise Hahn. As a young girl, she was constantly moving with her dad’s electrical construction jobs throughout the South. She always said that she had the best of all worlds because she met so many people during her younger years traveling but always ending up in Shadyside, Ohio when work was available in that area.

She remained in Shadyside after the 8th grade and graduated from Shadyside High School in 1966. She was a licensed beautician and worked at Stone & Thomas Salon with many clients that loved her ability to style their hair. She met her husband, Gary, while a freshman and accepted a date to his high school prom. They dated for 4 years before marrying him on December 30, 1967, prior to his deployment in Vietnam. They were married for 55 years and were blessed with 2 wonderful sons, Mike and Matt Gill; and one grandson, Andrew Gill. Mimi, as she was known to Andrew, was often sad that she didn’t get to spend more time with him because of her extended illness.

In 1975, her husband accepted an assignment with Mobay and they moved to Baytown with son, Mike. Matt was born two years later. She was a stay-at-home mom until the boys were in junior high and high school. After volunteering for several years with the school district, they asked her to work with children with learning disabilities. The hired her as a paraprofessional to set up a content mastery lab at Cedar Bayou Junior School to assist kids who needed help in keeping up with their classes. When they ended that program, she finished her years as an aide to the school’s special ed department. Judy loved working with kids and volunteered with the YMCA and Baytown Saints Soccer Club. In her spare time, she took great joy in working in the yard and tending to her landscaping. She was also a very creative seamstress who enjoyed sewing costumes for her family for Halloween and various parties.

Judy loved all animals, especially the pets she had had through the years. She still had holes in her heart for her sweet dogs Penny, Spanky and Bobby Joe. She loved her kittens Ragsie, Yellow Cat and Tuffy just as much. It broke her heart when the doctors asked her not to be around animals due to her immune system being compromised. She looked forward to when her sons and granddaughters would bring their pets by for short visits. Bitsy, Jeter, Arlo, Phenie, Luna, Paco, and little Neo brought her much joy.

Judy traveled extensively before and after retirement. Trips to Europe to visit with German friends, cruises, road trips throughout the United States, and especially her annual trip to Kauai. She loved the Garden Isle and encouraged many of her friends to accompany her so that she could share with them the beauty of the Island. It is her wish to have her ashes scattered there.

She was preceded in her death by her parents, Flave and Louise Hahn, brother Donald Flave, and brothers-in-law, Ken Gill and Edgar Crow. She is survived by her sons Mike and wife Shelli with grandson Andrew, son Matthew and his wife, Beverly, with granddaughters Kim Villareal and Lindsey Reyes; sister Elaine Crow, and nephews Rob and Rich Crow.

She wanted to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff at MD Anderson for the expert care and attention they gave her during her years of treatment. The family wishes to thank the staff at Rollingbrook Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and the assistance of Traditions Hospice for their help in the last week of her life. A special thank you to her two “sisters” Madalyn Albus and Susan Hales who were the best of friends and loved one other equally.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Baytown Humane Society and MD Anderson would be appreciated.

A celebration of life will be scheduled soon. Her wishes are to have a Hawaiian themed celebration with guests wearing Hawaiian-style clothing and celebrate her life with stories and memories. The date and venue will be announced.