Rose Gillig

Rose Mary (Newton) Gillig was born on January 3, 1927, to Carl and Beatrice Newton in Cleo Springs, Oklahoma and passed to her Heavenly home on March 6, 2022, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Rose grew up on her family’s farm where she learned to cook, help with the farm animals, and care for her brothers and sisters. She attended Elm Flat School and graduated from Cleo Springs High School in 1945. After graduating, Rose moved to Wichita, Kansas where she worked at a defense plant, Davis-Westholt, that specialized in making Boeing airplane parts for World War II.

Rose married her sweetheart, Howard Frederick Gillig, on May 12, 1946. They moved into his family homestead near Kiowa, Kansas. Together they farmed wheat, raised registered Angus cattle, and built a loving home. Rose and Howard were blessed with two daughters, Linda and Peggy. Being a selfless and protective mother came naturally to Rose.

Rose pursued many interests and talents. Not only was she a wife, mother, and homemaker, but also an entrepreneur as the owner of the L&R Sundry Shop and Doris’ Fashion Shoppe. Rose was a strong Christian and actively participated in her church community. She enjoyed fishing, attending Kiowa ballgames, cheering for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, playing card games with loved ones, and going to auctions. Rose was a member of the Auxillary, EHU, and the Young Homemakers clubs. Every summer she looked forward to entering her baked and canned goods, vegetables, paintings, quilts, and crafts to the Barber County Fair. She was honored to have received the fair’s “Homemaker of the Year” award several times.

Rose exhibited many skills, most of which were self-taught, including sewing, quilting, painting, and woodworking, to name a few. Rose was a master gardener and always grew a plethora of vegetables and beautiful peonies. She cooked and baked, with a particular finesse when it came to her homemade cinnamon rolls.

While Rose enjoyed these interests and skills, she found greater joy in sharing them. Rose was known to deliver baked goods, cooked meals, and homegrown vegetables to family, friends, and others in her community. She will be remembered for her compassion, kindness, generosity, and selflessness.

Rose was proud of her family, especially her grandchildren and their accomplishments.

Rose is preceded in death by her husband, Howard Gillig; son-in-law, Larry Lavicky; granddaughter, Lauren Henry; parents, Carl and Beatrice Newton, and several brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her daughters, Linda Lavicky of Pond Creek, Oklahoma, Peggy Henry and husband, Dennis of Tulsa, Oklahoma; one sister, Judy Matheny of Wichita, Kansas, and brothers, Clark Newton of Cleo Springs, Oklahoma and Robert Newton of Marshall, Oklahoma; three grandchildren, Ryan Henry and wife, Kathryn of Indian Hills, Colorado, Morgan Anderegg and husband, Brent of Denver, Colorado, and Amy Lavicky of Stillwater, Oklahoma; four great-grandchildren, Leif and Wrenna Henry and Matilda and Genevieve Anderegg, and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 11, 2022 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. in Kiowa, Kansas. Family will be present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Rose’s Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 1:00 pm at the United Methodist Church in Kiowa, Kansas. A graveside service will immediately follow at the Riverview Cemetery, also in Kiowa, Kansas.  www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook:  Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials may be made in Rose’s honor to the following organizations that she greatly cared about: Kiowa United Methodist Church and the Barber County Fair through the funeral home.