Freda Gilliland

Freda M. Gilliland, 84, of Viola, died Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at Mercer County Nursing Home, Aledo. Services are 10 a.m., Friday, March 16, at Viola United Methodist Church. Burial is in Viola Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola. Memorials may be made to Viola United Methodist Church. She was born Dec. 13, 1922, in Viola, the daughter of John and Nelle Brown Fisher. She married Robert Gilliland on Aug. 1, 1941, in Kahoka, Mo. He preceded her in death on Dec. 12, 2000. During the war, she worked in Washington, D.C. for the government. Later, she was employed as a teller at Farmers State Bank, Viola, for nine years. Freda was a member of Viola United Methodist Church. She was very active in the church, serving as communion steward for many years and also by teaching Sunday school for 13 years. Mrs. Gilliland also enjoyed painting with her friends. Surviving are two sons and spouses, Steve and Marcia Gilliland, Hillsboro, Ore., Tom and Judy Gilliland, Monmouth; six grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren; one sister, Lorene Anderson, Viola. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Zearl, Glen, Laverne, Garald and an infant brother; sisters, Jeneta Brown and Ruth DeKeyser; and a daughter-in-law, Nancy Gilliland.