Marie E. Gillard, 87, of Streator, Illinois, passed away at 12:01 A.M., Saturday, October 20th at Heritage Health and Rehabilitation, in Streator.

Funeral services will be at 1 P.M. Thursday, October 25th at Stasi-Grove Funeral Home in Olney, with Reverend Beth Tickner officiating. Burial will be in the Ebenezer cemetery, rural Olney. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Marie was born May 18, 1925 in Olney to Harry and Lela (Miller) Schonert. She married John Mitchell of Olney in 1942. Later, on August 22, 1954, she married Clayton Gillard of Olney. He survives in Streator.

Also surviving are children; Barbara (Paul) Jenkinson, of Azle, Texas; Gary Gillard, of Utica, Illinois, Pamela (Randy) Spencer, of Streator, step-brother Gene (June) Wilson, of Belleville. There are also seven grandchildren; LaRon Higgins, of Fort Worth, Texas, Shayne (Janis) Higgins of Azle, Texas, Kyle Higgins, of Austin, Texas, Theresa (Brandon) Hill of Springdale, Arkansas, Tyler (Megan) Wright, Trevon and Jarrett Spencer, all of Streator. she had four great-grandchildren; Savannah and Harrison Higgins, and Sydney and Sophie Wright, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother Winona (Wilson) Schonert, brother Wayne Schonert, and step-brother Kenneth Wilson.

Marie was a member of the Ebenezer Methodist Church and was employed at the Olney Shoe Factory and Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney. Later, she and Clayton moved to Ottawa, where she worked at Ottawa Community Hospital and the Doralon Shop. She was an avid antique collector and member of a club for doll collectors. She also loved camping, fishing, sewing, and quilting. She was never one to shy away from hard work, she was known for her large flower and vegetable gardens. She and Clayton loved to travel, especially enjoyed her family and caring for her grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Memorials may be directed to the family.