Lenora Mae Gilland Died Nov. 7, 2018

Lenora M. Gilland

Died Nov. 7, 2018

LAKE LEELANAU – Lenora Mae Gilland, 79, of Lake Leelanau, died Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018 at her home with family and pets by her side. 

Lenora was born on June 4, 1939 in Muskegon, the daughter of Riley and Hilda (Harper) Botruff. On April 7, 1957, also in Muskegon, she married Kyran J. Gilland, who survives.

Lenora attended Reeths Puffer School in Muskegon. Lenora worked at Leelanau Memorial Hospital Long Term Care for 28 years. She began working there in 1976 as a Nurse’s Aide. In 1989, Lenora became the unit clerk on Long Term and she continued in that position until the hospital closed in 2004. Lenora was a huge Detroit Tigers fan. In 2006 she made her first trip to Comerica Park. She and her daughter, Melinda, continued that tradition for many years. Lenora was also a fan of both the men's and women's Spartan basketball teams. She loved to play cards and Yahtzee. Lenora particularly loved the fall. She traveled to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine one year for the color tour. She was an avid reader and loved doing jigsaw puzzle. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband in his semi. Most of all, Lenora loved her family and her pets, Boozer and Barney. Lenora had an extended family of people who considered her to be their second mother.

In addition to her husband, Lenora is survived by children, Terry Gilland, Janet Schneider, Melinda Gilland, and “adopted” daughter, Jane Lang; seven grandchildren, Kimberly, Ryan, Justin, Kirsten, Tiffany, Alex, Travis, and CJ; five great-grandchildren, Arloa, Hunter, Bentley, Aubrey, Johnathon, and Ben.

She was preceded in death by sons, Jimmy and David Gilland; grandsons, Kyran Lee and David Lee, Jr.; sisters, Bev and Vida; and brothers, Charles and Leslie.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 from 5 to the 7 p.m. rosary at Martinson Funeral Home, Suttons Bay. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. also at the funeral home. Deacon Martin Korson will serve as celebrant. Interment at St. Mary cemetery will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center, 2000 Chartwell Drive, Suite 3, Traverse City, MI 49696.

Please share condolences and memories with the Gilland family below or on our Facebook page.