Shirley Irene Gill Jan. 1 1941 - January 13, 2013

Obituaries

Shirley Irene Gill died peacefully at her home in Friday Harbor, WA, on Sunday January 13, 2013. She will be remembered for her gentleness, compassion and kind and generous heart as well as for her ever-present sense of humor.

Shirley was born on New Year's Day, 1941, in Muskegon Michigan where she married John Van Appel in 1959. She raised two children, more or less single-handedly, while working in a variety of jobs. Always dedicated to her kids, she moved to the island of Oahu in the Fall of 1979 to be near her daughter and newly-born first grandchild.

She remained on Oahu until August of 1992 when she moved with her daughter and granddaughters to San Juan Island.

While working at the Islands Convalescent Center in 1995, she met her second husband, Frank Gill. They married on December 28, 1996, and were each other's constant, steadfast companions until her death, following a 15 year struggle with multiple serious health issues.

She is survived by her spouse Frank Gill, daughter Monica Van Appel-Percich (Bill), both of Friday Harbor; son Brad van Appel (Mary) of Pleasant Hill, OR; granddaughters Sarah McCutcheon (Barett) and Jacoba Porter (Chan), great-grandchildren Jordyn McCutcheon, Anthony and P.J. Nixon and Malia Choi, all of Friday Harbor; brother Nelson Briggs (Kathy) of Muskegon, MI; half brothers Carl and John Briggs, and half sisters Ellen Reeves and Carol Marty, all of Michigan; step-sons Mitchell Gill of Kauai, Damen Gill (Margo) of Maui and Joshua Gill (Lori) and family of Issaquah, WA.

She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.