LEONIS YVONNE GILLIES

With great sadness, the Woolsey families mourn the peaceful passing of Leonis Yvonne (Woolsey) Gillies, at the age of 104, on Sunday, May 13, 2018 at Rainycrest Long Term Care Home in Fort Frances, Ont.
Leonis was born in Dorchester, N.B. on Nov. 23, 1913. She came to the Rainy River District in 1926, where she spent the next 92 years.
She married Harold Forrest Woolsey on Dec. 27, 1930. They had 11 children before Harold passed in 1954.
While raising the family, she volunteered in the community teaching CGIT girls and 4-H Club. She also was an avid curler for 20 plus years.
In October, 1965, Leonis married Leslie Donald Gillies. She and Les managed the Barwick Cemetery and volunteered with the building of the Barwick Baptist Church, and cooked many hamburgers at the Barwick ball diamond with the Women’s Institute.
When Les passed in 1985, Leonis moved to the Golden Age Manor in Emo, Ont., where she spent 29 years, many of which she served as a member of their board.
In later years, she travelled across Canada with her sisters-in-law, Mabel Gillies and Winnie McKay.
Leonis was predeceased by her husband, Harold Forrest Woolsey on Jan. 13, 1954; infant daughter, Margaret Julia on Aug. 31, 1931; sons, Robert James Woolsey, on Jan. 23, 2009 and Keith Harold Woolsey on March 1, 2014; daughter-in-law, Inez (Sis) Woolsey on Sept. 25, 2008; grandsons, Richard Gordon (January, 1977), Gary Lynn (Oct. 17, 2011), and James Scott (Jan. 10, 2007); and second husband, Leslie Donald Gilles (March, 1985).
Leonis is survived by three daughters, Betty (Gordon) Halvorson, Lois (John) Patterson, and Jane (Gerry) Allan, and one daughter-in-law, Elsie (Keith); sons, Ross (Audrey), Jerry (Darlene), Don (Marlene), Allen (Diane), and Dean (Kathy); as well as 26 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, and 33 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Leonis Yvonne (Woolsey) Gillies will be held Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Northridge Funeral Home in Emo, with Rev. Frances Flook officiating.
Interment will take place in the Barwick Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to Emo Hospital Auxiliary c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.