1942
Amy
2016
Amy Helen Gililland
August 9, 1942 — March 8, 2016
Amy McSpadden Gililland, 73, of Amarillo, formerly of Hereford, passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2016 in Amarillo.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2016 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia St., Amarillo with The Rev. Jo Roberts Craig, The Rev. Dr. Robert Pace, and The Rev. Claire Cowden officiating. Interment will be at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at West Park Cemetery in Hereford, Texas. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo, Texas 79110.
Amy was born August 9, 1942 in Lubbock to Cecil and Marguerite McSpadden. She married John Gililland in Hereford on September 1, 1962. Together, they were instrumental in the daily operations of Gililland-Watson Funeral Home and served the families of Hereford from 1962 until 2005, one year after John’s death.
Amy had a lifetime passion for the performing arts and was a very artistic individual starting in high school drama class. She established the Hereford Community Players and directed and acted in several summer melodramas. She was a charter member of the Hereford Chamber Singers, preforming in various local venues, including traveling to Romania and performing by invitation at the World’s Fair in Brisbane, Australia in 1988.
Over the past forty years, Amy was an intricate, accomplished member of ALT. There was not a role she considered too small. From sewing costumes to directing and performing, she embraced every aspect of the theatre. She took pride in every performer and performance no matter what involvement she had.
She could only be described as multifaceted as her talents were many, but perhaps her greatest gift was that of her compassion and kindheartedness. Her benevolence towards others was unsurpassed. Amy embraced every part of society from the very meek to those seemingly having it all. She sewed infant clothing for children who died on the migrant fields; created quilts in honor of those affected by AIDS and knitted prayer shawls for those needing encouragement in times of trials. A courageous, progressive woman, Amy cared for those deemed unworthy and and stood up for those who could not stand up for themselves, ensuring their voices were heard.
The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Saturday evening from 5 PM until 7 PM.
Amy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2004 and by two sisters, Mary Kay and Barbara.
She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Gililland Baxter and husband Derrell of Amarillo; her son, John Matt Gililland of Amarillo; her two sisters, Debra O’Neil of Poteau, OK and Cecelia Fuller of Hereford; her brother John McSpadden of Dumas; two grandchildren, Zachary Baxter and Jacob Gililland; and one great grandchild, Gabriel Andrew Baxter, Esq.
The entire ALT will be honored as honorary pallbearers.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to ALT, 2019 Civic Cir, Amarillo, TX 79109, to PASO, PO Box 2582 Amarillo, TX 79105, or to a favorite charity.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2016 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia St., Amarillo with The Rev. Jo Roberts Craig, The Rev. Dr. Robert Pace, and The Rev. Claire Cowden officiating. Interment will be at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at West Park Cemetery in Hereford, Texas. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia, Amarillo, Texas 79110.
Amy was born August 9, 1942 in Lubbock to Cecil and Marguerite McSpadden. She married John Gililland in Hereford on September 1, 1962. Together, they were instrumental in the daily operations of Gililland-Watson Funeral Home and served the families of Hereford from 1962 until 2005, one year after John’s death.
Amy had a lifetime passion for the performing arts and was a very artistic individual starting in high school drama class. She established the Hereford Community Players and directed and acted in several summer melodramas. She was a charter member of the Hereford Chamber Singers, preforming in various local venues, including traveling to Romania and performing by invitation at the World’s Fair in Brisbane, Australia in 1988.
Over the past forty years, Amy was an intricate, accomplished member of ALT. There was not a role she considered too small. From sewing costumes to directing and performing, she embraced every aspect of the theatre. She took pride in every performer and performance no matter what involvement she had.
She could only be described as multifaceted as her talents were many, but perhaps her greatest gift was that of her compassion and kindheartedness. Her benevolence towards others was unsurpassed. Amy embraced every part of society from the very meek to those seemingly having it all. She sewed infant clothing for children who died on the migrant fields; created quilts in honor of those affected by AIDS and knitted prayer shawls for those needing encouragement in times of trials. A courageous, progressive woman, Amy cared for those deemed unworthy and and stood up for those who could not stand up for themselves, ensuring their voices were heard.
The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Saturday evening from 5 PM until 7 PM.
Amy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2004 and by two sisters, Mary Kay and Barbara.
She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Gililland Baxter and husband Derrell of Amarillo; her son, John Matt Gililland of Amarillo; her two sisters, Debra O’Neil of Poteau, OK and Cecelia Fuller of Hereford; her brother John McSpadden of Dumas; two grandchildren, Zachary Baxter and Jacob Gililland; and one great grandchild, Gabriel Andrew Baxter, Esq.
The entire ALT will be honored as honorary pallbearers.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to ALT, 2019 Civic Cir, Amarillo, TX 79109, to PASO, PO Box 2582 Amarillo, TX 79105, or to a favorite charity.
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