She was born in Austin, Texas on October 5th, 1938. In her senior year of high school Barbara met the love of her life, Lewis Gillett, at her dad's butcher shop. They began their 62-year marriage on February 10th, 1956 the same year Barbara graduated from McCallum High School. Together they had four children and raised them to be a close-knit family spending an abundance of time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Barbara was very involved in every aspect of her children’s lives...from being a Cub Scout den mother, room mother for all four children, President of the PTA, to helping roll and deliver newspapers on early morning paper routes, just to name a few. In her spare time she loved reading and caring for her many, many plants and flowers. Professionally, Barbara enjoyed a long career at Texas County and District Retirement System.
Barbara was a person of faith. She was a long-time member of the Crestview United Methodist Church, serving on many committees and teaching Sunday school. She and Lewis served both the Walk to Emmaus community and the prison ministry, Kairos.
She is survived by four children, Don Gillett of Houston; Sheryl and Kimm Ketelsen of Hutto; Allan and Liz Gillett of Cedar Creek; Kevin and Jill Gillett of Elgin; nine grandchildren, Amber and Zach Hardilek; Jeff and Maxine Gillett; Matthew and Megan Gillett; Tyler and Jeanlyn Gillett; Alyssa and Daly Young; Jonathan and Emily Gillett; Zachary Gillett; Christi and John Stevens; Julie Ketelsen; many great grandchildren; sister Kay Fleet, niece Rene and Jeff Srednick; sisters-in-law Doris and Dean Davis; Pat and Richard Dixon; and several nieces and nephews.
Barbara was preceded in death by her loving husband Lewis, her parents Walter and Evelyn Wendland, parents-in-law Edgar and Vera Gillett, brother-in-law Jim Gillett, and nephew Charles Fleet, Jr.
A visitation for family and friends will be held Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 5pm-8pm at Cook-Walden Capital Parks in Pflugerville. The funeral and graveside services will take place Friday, September 6, 2024 at 3:30pm in the memorial chapel of Cook-Walden Capital Parks in Pflugerville.
Pallbearers:
Jeff Gillett
Matthew Gillett
Tyler Gillett
Zachary Gillett
Zach Hardilek
Brom Hardilek
Daly Young
Honorary Pallbearers:
Jonathan Gillett and Jeff Srednick
If desired, friends may make a memorial contribution to the Methodist Children's Home in Waco.
