Rosie Gilmore

ELKHART, Ind. — Rosie Lee Gilmore, 82, formerly of Sikeston, Missouri, Mo., died June 26, 2019, at Greenleaf Living Center in Elkhart.

Born July 29, 1936, in Memphis, Tenn., daughter of the late James and Emily Morris Gilmore, she was a graduate of O'Bannon High School in New Madrid in 1957. She spent many years working at the Sikeston Dry Cleaners and served as a foster grandmother at the Sikeston Kindergarten Center for 20 years. She was a member King’s Chapel which later became Cornerstone Baptist Church. She served in the choir for over 40 years and later as the mission assistance secretary.

On June 3, 1976, she married Charles Willis, and he preceded her in death on June 9, 2002.

She was also preceded in death by two daughters, Rosemond Uneik Gilmore and Valerie Jean Williams; three sisters, Earline Honorable, Ethel Abernathy and Stella Gilmore; five brothers, Lt. James Gilmore Jr., Willie Roy “Baby Ray” Gilmore, Jerome Gilmore, Sgt. Calquat “Bobby” Gilmore and Michael Gilmore; and her grandparents.

Survivors include: one son, Curtis Gilmore of Farmington, Mo.; six daughters, Tammy Gilmore of St. Louis, Mo., Earline Gilmore, Cynthia Gilmore and Samona Gilmore of Sikeston, Desweda Carter of West Memphis, Ark., and Charlette (Dwayne) House of Elkhart; one sister, Dorothy Smart of Elkhart; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation is from 10 a.m. until service time at noon Friday at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Sikeston with the Rev. L.J. Nabors, pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow in Sikeston Memorial Park Cemetery at Sikeston the Williams Funeral Home of Sikeston in charge of arrangements.