Uncle Chuck update

The following is a copy of a recent email update from Les Clark re: Uncle Chuck Cozza and his journey toward recovery. She sent some great pictures, so I thought I should just duplicate her email since she did such a good job of it.


Robert Gillis -Great Grandpa Bob and Les's grandson Nolan (Julie and Mike's baby)and Ann (Cozza) Gillis - Great Grandma Ann and Debby and Mike's grandson Bodie (Karli and Nil's baby)

Dear family,
As you can see, Uncle Johnny and Aunt Sally have come for a visit to
Colorado. We were all at my mom and dad's house. Kim and the boys brought Chuckie over too. He is still making improvements. Uncle Johnny was talking to him almost the whole time we were all together and it was like medicine to Chuckie. He whispered to him and in this picture they were pretending to arm wrestle.
Kim said that this week is the week that Craig Rehab comes to evaluate Chuckie to see if he will be able to get into the center or not. Chuckie IS getting stronger. He DOES understand us. When Uncle Johnny asked him to blink his eyes, he did, when he asked him to close his left eye he did. He squeezed his hand and more. He really needs this rehab place to get him working on the strength in his left side. He does move it but it is very weak. I thought you might
enjoy these pictures to see how far Chuckie has come. We are all hopeful for his continued improvements. Today he told me he loved me in a quiet whisper. It did my heart good! I LOVE MY UNCLE CHUCKIE!
love to all,
les

The Colorado cousins

Thanks to Kate Clark for emailing this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdPXGxFsXx4

Everyone Had a Lovely Time. . .

Summer Picnic

The Cousins (to me) Bob Gillis, Karen, Les and Debbie - arranged a picnic at Uncle Bob and Auntie Ann Gillis' house last weekend. For several of us, it had been over a year since we'd seen each other - so Thank you, Thank you so much cousins for making it happen. Except oops! No group photo. Uncle Bob used to make sure there was always a big group picture - and we let it slip by. There back yard was still gorgeous; there were 2 new babies to ooh and ahh at.

Cousin Chuck came, girls home from college, married girls, working girls, golfing boys, and neighbors came. Who'd I miss. Pardon me for generically calling everyone "cousins".


I missed the baby announcement for Karli's baby boy -Bodie, so insert info here if you have it.

Julie's Nolan is now 4 months old and truely is at the life of the party age.
As always I'm tempted to try to list everybody, but I'll just muck it up. So, how about a few pictures, and maybe a slide show to come? It's late, so that will have to do.

Thanks again organizers! You did a fabulous job, and and was great to see everyone.

Cody Gillis holding Bodie Erickson. Lori Clark holding Nolan Miller.

.

May 11, 1954 - Anniversary Letter from Rev.WBG

Auntie Jan (Gillis) Hansen sent me this letter for the archieves! I'm trying to think how I can make it large enough to read - perhaps I should revive my old website and link it. (Just thinking outloud.) So, who was born in 1954 to Bob and Ann - that Grandma Katheryn McCrery Gillis was out visiting?

Roberta's Rock

We Centennial Gillis's got the chance to sneak up and congratulate Roberta (Scheper) Gillis. Mom was on the Board of Southsuburan for years (decades?) and is the reason Decovand Park and Goodson recreation center are as wonderful as they are today. The Rock, with a plaque recognizing Roberta, overlooks a large open space just north of Goodson. There is even a park bench in case you want to sit and contemplate on the rock. We'll get the kids out there with their crayons some day to make a rubbing of the plaque to add to this post.

"Happy Birthday to you, Cha cha cha!"

Today is W Bruce Gillis Jr.'s 84th birthday. (born in 1923) It occurs to me that I should type in what was put in the GF Chronicles, and then update it as a way of getting started. Maybe this weekend. Of course, who's birthday is next, and how quickly will I get behind . . . hmm. Well, I know dad spent a quiet day at home, had Mexican food (his long time favorite) with friends, and will celebrate a joint birthday/easter with us (the Dobsons) on Sunday.

Will and Debbie Gillis

My appologies to Will and Debbie for taking so long to get this blog updated. Will was good enough to send this information along, the first of hopefully many - keep in touch, get to know your extended family- postings:

Written January 8, 2007

Dear Colleen & Family & Friends,

Where to start?

I am Willis (Will) Arthur son of Harry Arthur grandson of Clifford Arthur Gillis. Deborah (Debbie) and I were married March 3, 2002. Even though we have been “legal” for almost five years, we’ve been together 22 years prior to that. When Debbie was unable to have children after her only child a daughter. I knew then and even now I thank God every day for finding my soul mate, and then being allowed to marry her. I have a beautiful stepdaughter Dana Diane who will be 37 years of age this fall. I regret nothing.

Our regular jobs are, I am a civil servant field agent with the Census Bureau, and Debbie works with a state funded disabled adult center. We are both self employed with myself an Accounting/Tax practice, and Debbie her Landscaping Design company.

We’re both heavily involved with our Nazarene Church with my myself the Treasurer, Usher, Sunday School Teacher for young adults, and this will be my 4^th year doing pro bono work with the IRS through our church doing free tax service for the elderly, low income, military, etc. Debbie works with the children in the Arts department.

Lastly, we own property just inside the Arizona state line by the Colorado River that separates CA & AZ. This is were we plan to retire in 10 years for health reasons, unless our health reasons force us to retire there sooner. This updates our blog of the Gillis Family Genealogy and Chronicles. A BIG thank you to Colleen for initiating this blog for updates, and a heartfelt mention to Aunt Lois Shore, who we’re honored to have shared many a long conversation with regarding the Gillis Family Genealogy and Chronicles.

Thank you for listening and we both look forward to meeting many of our relatives!
Sincerely, Will & Debbie Gillis

(Thank you Will and Debbie!)

Nolan Garrett Miller!

Nolan was born March 10^th, 2007 11:18 p.m.
7 pounds 6.5oz, 21 3/8 inches to Happy Parents Julia and Mike Miller.

Proud Grandma Leslie (Gillis) Clark and Grandpa Gary Clark.

Congratulations!

Pictures from Pat

Here are the pictures that didn't make it yesterday of Allison Teresa Baur, our newest clan member and her "Big Sister" Bryana. Also proud grandma when she visited early in January

Pictures

Newest Gillis Clan member Alison Baur and her "Big Sister" Bryana taken early Jan while Grandma Pat was visiting./Users/pattillotson/Pictures/Kodak Pictures/01-17-2007/100_2879.JPG

Brother Jim Clark sent the photo and following in an email message

Namaste again! OK, here's my second report. There were a couple of reasons why I went to India in September. The primary reason was to accompany my friend Bill Berry (who is also the pastor of our church) who has been going to India for the past 5 years to conduct prayer summits for Indian pastors. These are essentially 3 day retreats to which pastors of all demominations from a given city are invited. The intent is to encourage and minister to them personally, strengthen them, build unity between them, and cast a vision for them of working together towards serving and loving the people and their city with Christlike love. A secondary reason for my trip was to see all I could and enjoy this amazing country!

From Singapore I flew to the city of Chennai (formerly Madras) about midway up the east coast of India, a city of several million people. I arrived around 10 PM and was met by an Indian friend of Bill's, Simon, along with a driver, who took me to my hotel. The next day Simon very kindly arranged for a car and driver to take me around Chennai to see the sights. The traffic was intense and amazing, and I soaked in all the sights, sounds and smells. In many ways it took me right back to Kathmandu, Nepal in the late 60's...very similar in many ways.

In the attached photo you will see my visit to the beach (where the tsunami came ashore a couple of years ago).

Drugstore Santa

1940 what? Dad - what's the drug store santa story?

Gingerbread house

3rd annual? We're getting better.

Cousin Jamey Blackmore

An artfully doctored photo by his Auntie, Kate Clark. Jamey is Laurie (Clark) and Paul Blackmores first, a.k.a. "Pink Boy!" Oh, I have to fix this so that not just comments, but stories can be added! I'm working on it Kate!

Gobs of Gillis Girls

The Weitzel, TAylor, Erikson, Miller, Brackin,Clark gathering on
Saturday in Denver went well. We girls met for coffee, we almost
stayed till lunch! hahahaha

First Xmas without Drugstore Santa

A visably shaken WBGillis Jr. suddenly realizes that it's Thanksgiving, and he has not done his duty for the first time in 46 years. Traditionally, Drugstore Santa comes out of mothballs "no sooner than thanksgiving" (per his mother N Kathryn Gillis while under her roof).

Last year, cardboard Santa was turned over to Julia (Clark) Miller - who actually seemed please to recieve it. - because of the luck of the grab bag. (I shall find out tomorrow if Papa called to remind her of her duty toward santa.)

New Arrival - Allison Teresa Baur

November 20th, 2006

"As the proud grandma, I am delighted to let everyone in the Gillis
clan know that Dawn and Eric are the proud parents ( and Clive and
myself extremely proud grandparents) of Allison Teresa Baur who was
born early this morning.

When they called about a half hour after she was born, Dawn sounded
great. And of course, delighted papa also.

I was told she weighted in at 9 lbs and almost 21 inches. Born at
2:31 Oregon time. I know they will be getting more details out soon.
But I wanted the initial Gillis news circuit to be the first to know.

And yes, Oregon is way too far away."

Pat (Tillotson)

No pictures yet, but we are all patiently waiting.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unclechuckie/


can I use this as a link? Seems too easy.

Charles Cozza Benefit

From an email by WBG Jr. - "Karen's e-mails of today are an excellent summary of the Church benefit for Chuck Cozza which we were also privileged to attend. There were obviously many contributors including many church and community members who did not know Chuck or the family personally. There are many people to be thanked for the turnout which almost filled the very large basement meeting room. In addition to Karen's reports we would like to point out that that Front Range Gillises (principally Unc Bob and Ann's extended family) were the prime movers and shakers of the Church benefit, and in addition, having created group mailing web site through Yahoo and established a mechanism for family and friends to contribute where possible to help fund Kim and the family during a time of need. They are all splendid examples of community leaders coming forth to answer a heartfelt need. If you get a chance please tell them so."



"this young couple who came in the door and handed me 60.00. I said, how do you know Chuckie? The girl said,"oh, we have never met him before but we know what it is like to go through hard times and we wanted to help."Needless to say, I hugged her neck!" - Leslie Clark