Viatorian Associate Margery Gill died after tragically being struck by a vehicle near her home in Henderson, NV on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. Margery was born on Oct. 30, 1942 in Madison Wisconsin, and received her B.A. in Education at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. She was an elementary school teacher for forty-four years, forty-one of them in Nevada working for the Clark County School System. She earned her M.A. as a reading specialist from the University of Northern Arizona. She is listed in the “Who’s Who Biographical Record of Child Development Professionals”, “The Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America”, and “Outstanding Leaders in Elementary Secondary Education”. She also received Clark County’s “Distinguished Elementary School Educator” award.
She was actively involved at St. Viator parish in Las Vegas for many years in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. She then moved to Henderson and became involved with the Viatorians again at St. Thomas More. At both parishes she was a Lector, Catechist, Eucharistic Minister, R.C.I.A. team member, a member of the liturgical environment committee. After retirement, she became an extraordinary volunteer at St. Thomas More parish, being there almost every day doing whatever needed to be done in the main office, assisting the religious education program, the liturgical events, and baking her famous extraordinary chocolate chip cookies weekly for one activity or another. She is deeply mourned in the St. Thomas More community since so many of her students over those forty-one years are now members of this community. Many of their children had her as a teacher as well.
Her humor was dry and droll but everyone knew about it. Her love of children was evident always, especially as she lined up Palm Sunday processions or First Communion processions. Kid’s faces lit up when they saw her (their teacher) in the parish. Squeals of “Miss Gill” would often be heard. She taught 2nd grade for forty-one years and was finally promoted to 3rd grade during the last three years of teaching. (She preferred 2nd grade). She continued to volunteer at Vandenberg School and to tutor children independently.
She became a Viatorian Associate in 2004 and was always committed to the Community. She had strong personal ties to many Viatorians. She was part of the leadership group here in the Western region and had been part of the earlier planning group for many years.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Thomas More Catholic Community on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 12:00 noon. There was an hour visitation beforehand. She was buried at Palm Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas/ Henderson. A funeral luncheon followed the Mass.
Please remember Margery and her family in your Masses and prayers.