Mary Gambrill

Mary Louise Gambrill, 97, of Harristown, Illinois passed away at 8:15, Sunday, April 21, 2013 in her home. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Thursday, April 25, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 24, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Harristown Cemetery, Harristown, IL. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, American Red Cross, or Harbor Light Hospice. Mary was born in the family home in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of Leland Averitt and Christenia Monical Bissey. She moved to Harristown in 1921 with her family and has lived within one mile of her home residence ever since. She was a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and married her best friend, John William Gambrill in Maroa, Illinois June 6, 1934. Together they owned and operated Johnny's Circle Inn grocery, restaurant and filling station on the Old Route 36 Curve in Harristown for 39 ½ years. They were founders of the Circle Inn Community Center where she served as president and coordinator. They were die hard Cub fans and enjoyed going to Mesa, Arizona for Spring Training. They enjoyed camping and fishing and traveled extensively visiting every state in the Union except Hawaii and every province in Canada. Mary was the recipient of the Kentucky Colonel award for Senior Service, helped lead a 4H Club teaching sewing, knitting and crochet in her home and served as a dispatcher for the Harristown Fire Protection District. She was a past president of the summit Culture Club and the CTE Club. In 1935 she and a friend organized a Homemaker's Club that studied family life, child rearing and cooking. Mary was a member of the Harristown Christian Church since 1929 service as board co-chairman, elder, organist, pianist and junior choir leader. She taught Sunday school classes for 55 years. Mary was CWF president and a member of the People of the Covenant and Loves and Fishes bible study groups. She also served on the food bank committee and enjoyed quilting with the church group. Following the death of her husband in August of 1990, she volunteered at the New Life Pregnancy Center, the Salvation Army, and the Prairieland Come Share program. Until the last few months of her life she tutored children at the Harristown Grade School. Mary made hundreds of lap quilts for nursing home occupants. At the age of 80 she began going on Jeep off-road trips with her son and the Two Rivers Jeep Club in Pittsfield, Illinois. She enjoyed having lunch with the WOW group and working puzzles of all kinds. She was a homemaker and enjoyed all the family gatherings in her home. She is survived by her daughters, Shirley Gambrill (husband Mike) of Anna, IL, Marjorie Butler of Decatur, Marcia Aldridge (husband Cecil) of Harristown, and her son, John Steven Gambrill (wife Linda) of Decatur. She also leaves a sister, Betty Lois Glasscok of Gays, IL. Mary has 14 grandchildren, 3 step granddaughters, 42 great grandchildren, 13 great great grandchildren, 7 nieces and 8 nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, son-in-law William R. Butler, brothers Eldon (Bud) Bissey and George R. (Dutch) Bissey, great granddaughter Elizabeth Leigh (Beth) Butler and her mother Mary Flory Butler. Mary and her family are grateful to Dr. D. Patel, Dr. Kola, Dr. Esparaz, Dr. Sherwood, the paramedics of Decatur Ambulance, and Harbor Light Hospice for their care and concern . It was greatly appreciated. "
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