Pauline Gillett passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, November 19, 2018, at the age of 94 after a long and vibrant life. Pauline was born on November 16, 1924 at home, the sixth child of John Otis and Ada Marie (Richards) Chandler. Pauline was a lifetime Sarcoxie resident and a homemaker. She attended Downey School and Pleasant Hill School until circumstances required her to care for her younger siblings after the death of her parents.
She was united in marriage to Edward Earl Gillett on April 19, 1946. They met after Earl’s family relocated to the Sarcoxie area. After they married, they settled in the LaRussell area, farming and milking cows for several years before moving to Sarcoxie to open a feed business in 1955. They built and operated the Sarcoxie Feed and Farm Supply. When Earl passed away unexpectedly on February 6, 1977 at the young age of 53, Pauline and her son Ed continued to operate the feed and farm supply until selling the business in 2003 after forty eight years.
Pauline was preceded in death by her husband; youngest son, Richard Gillett on August 2, 2002; her twin brother, Paul Chandler, brothers, Faye Chandler and Leroy Chandler; sisters, Helen Carmichael, Ruth Clark, Ada Marie Wendler and Nancy McCandless.
Pauline is also survived by four children and their families; Connie Gillett of Greenbelt, MD, Earleene Hicks (Dennis) of Olathe, KS, Ed Gillett of Sarcoxie, Jan Sartain (Don) of Austin, TX; five grandchildren; Scott Kuschmider (Rebekah), Kristi Devers (John), Tanya Martin (Jim), Drew Sartain and Tiffany Hicks (Jared Rogers); three great grandchildren, Nina Kuschmider, Charlie Kuschmider, and Livvia Rogers; sister Viola Stoops of Carthage; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other family and friends.
A celebration of Pauline’s life will be held on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home in Sarcoxie with Ron Henson officiating. Interment will be in the Sarcoxie Cemetery. A reception for family and friends will be held immediately following graveside services at the Sarcoxie Senior Center on the square. Visitation will be Tuesday evening, November 20, 2018, from 6 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Those wishing to honor Pauline’s memory may donate in her honor to the Sarcoxie Senior Center, 519 Cross Street, Sarcoxie, MO. 64862, or to Special Olympics Texas, 1804 Rutherford Lane, Austin, TX 78752 (or https://give.specialolympics.org/page/contribute/texas ).
The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Avalon Hospice, especially Toni Johnson, Rose Miley, Emily Patrick, Lynne Duffield and Ron Henson, who were instrumental in maintaining Pauline’s comfort and care while at home. A very special thank you to our loving caregivers Janell Balmas, Elaine Cunningham and Lindsey Cross, who became dear friends, not only to our mother, but to our entire family, while providing immense joy and comfort these past two years, allowing our mother to live at home in her final years. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home, Sarcoxie, Missouri.
