Lillie Lee Gilligan

Lillie “Lil” Lee Blakeney Gilligan of Austin passed away on January 9, 2021 after a brief illness. Lil was born in Camp Wood, Texas on March 30, 1933 to Aaron and Goldie “Grace” Geffs Blakeney. She married Neil James Gilligan, Jr. in 1952 in Uvalde, TX. She was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband, and two children: Terry Ann and Neil James “Skipper” III. She is survived by her daughter, Laura and her husband, Richard, of Pflugerville, TX; grandchildren: James Clay and wife Dawn of Dothan, AL, Tiffany Clay of Pflugerville, Travis Banks and wife Melissa of San Antonio, TX, and Erin Gilligan of Lake Summerville, TX; as well as three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

During the Great Depression, the Blakeney family struggled and moved around the US, the family finally ending up in California’s Mojave Desert where Lillie's father found a government job. California and the Depression left lasting impressions on Lil and influenced much of the rest of her life.

Lil graduated from St. Edwards University, Austin, TX as one of the first graduates of the New College Program. She also attended Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, TX. In the early years, Lillie helped support her husband's work in various radio stations across Texas, assisting in covering fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and President John Kennedy's assassination. She was honored to meet many leaders and celebrities of the day including then Vice President Johnson, the late Michael Landon and late Walter Cronkite.

Lil worked for the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin and was a member of Executive Women in Texas Government. She also worked with Texas Governors Ann Richards, George Bush and Rick Perry during their administrations.

Lil worked tirelessly on state health legislation and supported many Texas women's issues including being involved in the early formation of the Texas Conference for Women. Plus, having raised a child with health issues and knowing the debt that came with it, she worked tirelessly in support of children's health issues and affordable care. She helped find affordable solutions for many grateful Austin children and their families through her network of resources. Lil received much grateful recognition and several awards for her efforts in these areas.

Up until the last few months of her life, Lil participated in numerous service and social organizations relating to her areas of interest including the Junior League of Laredo, Eastern Star, Beta Sigma Phi, Ruh Neb Daughters of the Nile, the Ben Hera Court's Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America and the Jokheras Shrine Lady Clowns. Lil held various offices in many of these organizations. As a Shrine Lady Clown, "Diamond Lil" enjoyed selling ads for and painting faces at many Ben Hur Shrine Circuses. Over the years, she contributed greatly in time, talents and money to numerous events supporting the Shriners Hospitals for Children and their mission.

Lil was a former President of the Austin Founder Lions Club and served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville. The camp serves children with various disabilities, type 1 diabetes and cancer. Lil was instrumental in helping to provide support for various camp improvements. She believed in helping others and supporting the local Austin community and the State community in any way she could.

Lil and Neil both enjoyed dancing and eating fine food. To that end they were members of various dance and dining clubs across Austin.

Also of great interest to Lil and Neil was travel. During their lifetime they traveled through 38 countries and all over the US and most of the US territories. Before she fell ill, Lil had plans to travel to Australia and New Zealand with friends and serve as a tour guild for the group.

Lil was proud to watch all of her grandchildren graduate from college and one even earn his Law Degree.

The family would like to thank the staff and management of the Isle at Cedar Ridge and the staff of Silverado Hospice Care, especially Jim, for all the love and kindness shown to Lil, helping make her journey so peaceful.

She was loved by many. Through a life well lived in the service of others, one can certainly say Lillie Blakeney Gilligan made the world a better place. She will be missed.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, January 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery in Pflugerville, TX. Please wear face masks and practice social distancing if attending.

In lieu of flowers, it was Lil’s request donations be made in her honor to the Shriner Hospitals for Children which can be done using www.donate.lovetotherescue.org or mail checks to Shriner’s Hospital, 815 Market St, Galveston, Texas 77550 to continue her service to others.