Carol Doralee Gililland

She was born in Portage, Michigan on July 3, 1937, near Kalamazoo to Joseph and Ethel Burnworth. She was a farm kid with six older brothers. Doug, Bob, Jim, Don, Carl, and Clair.

She attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Portage high School in 1955. She then moved to California and became a telephone operator. She got married and had three children. Daughters Linda, Andy and son John. Through the years, aside from being a full-time mother, she accomplished many things.

She was a bank teller for Bank of America, a land development company partner, bookkeeper for the USO in Keflavik Iceland, and did public service announcements for the Department of Defense on armed forces, radio, and TV.

She was an artist in everything she did. From writing a simple note, drawing pictures, interior design, ceramics, creating handmade invitations with calligraphy, planning parties and entertainment for Captains and Admirals to gardening her flowers. Everything she touched was made beautiful.

She was a US Navy wife. She traveled all over the United States and overseas with her husband Robert Gililland and their children. They traveled even more when they retired. They had many amazing adventures together.

She was always an elegant lady and would help anyone who needed it. She was the glue that held us together for a lifetime. She is truly one of a kind and will be greatly missed.

Carol is survived by her oldest daughter, Linda Gililland, son John Gililland, grandson's Christopher Robert, John Alcorn, Jon Kennedy and her granddaughter, Sarah Gililland.

A service for Carol will be held Tuesday, June 3, 2025 from 11:00 AM at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518.