Susan Vinette Gililland

Susan V. Gililland, 69, of OKC passed from this life on April 20, 2017 with her loving family by her side. Service have been entrusted to the care of Advantage Funeral & Cremation Service and a memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, April 29th at 2pm at the First Christian Church at 401 E. 1st St. in Luther.

Susan was born on Feb. 13, 1948 in Luther, OK to Theron Edward and Mary Bell (Bass) Booher. She was raised in Luther, graduating from Luther High School in the mid 1960’s. She attended OK State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. She later married Bruce Ray Gililland in Edmond, OK and they spent 25 years together. Susan felt led to adopt two children and after much consideration she set off to the Philippines to make this dream come true. Upon arrival she was informed that you had to be a resident of Philippines for 3 years before adopting. Susan and Bruce relocated and spent the next few years doing missions work in Makati, Philippines. They were fortunate to be selected to host many American dignitaries and professional basketball players during their time there. After several years overseas, Susan returned home with two new Gililland children, Aaron and Rebekah. Several years later she gave birth to her third child, Matthew Gililland.

Susan dedicated her life to her speech pathology patients and she was employed at schools, hospitals, and nursing homes in San Francisco, San Jose, Ada, Fresno, Oregon, and Moore, OK. She highly valued education and in addition to her time at OSU, she also studied at Baylor and Fresno State. She spent several semesters teaching Speech and Language Pathology at Fresno State. Susan was a wonderful cook and she used her talent to earn extra money for her family by catering meals to local businesses and families. Peanut Brittle and her signature dressing were always a hit.

Susan enjoyed collecting Beanie Babies and McDonald's Happy Meal Toy’s which she often used as illustrations for the kids in her speech pathology practice. She was a member of several national and state speech pathology associations, the Luther 4-H, as well as an active member of LifeChurch in Moore. She was a one of a kind, old-fashioned woman who found it easy to make friends. She used her warm personality, quick-wit, and relentlessly positive attitude to encourage and build-up those around her. Susan always had the best stories and often crafted them into life lessons for her children and patients. She was a loving mother, a caring sister, a hard worker, and a loyal friend who will be missed by all whose life she touched.

She was preceded in death by her father Theron Booher and sister Pamela Rehl. She is survived by her mother Mary Bell Booher of OKC; Three children: Aaron Paul Gililland of Moore, Rebekah Elizabeth Gililland of OKC, and Matthew David Gililland of Moore; a grandson Tristan Rashaan Watson; three siblings: Karen Boiles and husband Brian, Timothy Booher and wife Bebe, Alan Booher and wife Jackie; several nieces and nephews: Justin, Melissa, Ryan, Michelle, and Julie Booher, as well as Jimmy and Sarah Boiles.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.advantageokc.com