Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Matt Gillis, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend passed away in Tooele, Utah, Sunday afternoon, Aug. 8, 2021, at the age of 92. Born Herbert Matthew Gillis to Jonathan Larkin Gillis and Sylvania Pashi Gillis on Dec. 13, 1928, in Stark, Louisiana, Matt was the ninth of eleven children and the youngest of five brothers. When his father passed away in 1940 Matt was only twelve years of age and the sole male member of the household while his brothers were away serving in World War II. Matt enlisted in the US Air Force in June 1946 at the age of 17 and arranged to have most of his pay sent to support his mother and two younger sisters back home. He served in Korea during the war as a fire and rescue-man. After the war he was stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where he met and married Beverly Orton, fathering three children: Larry (1954), Pam (1956) and Kelly Gillis (1958). His military career took him and his family around the globe to Japan, Spain, Morocco, and Germany.
He retired in 1967 as a senior master sergeant and moved to Tooele, Utah, to be close to his family. Matt started a second career in the civil service while also involving himself in several social and charitable organizations. He served as the governor of the Moose Lodge for several years, loved bartending at the Elks Club, volunteering at the Tooele Arts Festival and gave of his time at Mountain West Medical Center. Other joys that filled Matt’s time were golfing, camping, traveling and hunting.
Matt met and married Jane Locklar in June 1985 and they remained inseparable for 36 years. Marrying Jane gave Matt an older stepson, David (1963). Matt followed Jane while she finished her successful civil service career after his second retirement in 1991.
Matt Gillis remains a much-respected figure in Tooele, noted for his community involvement, love of the outdoors and his love of his family and his many friends. He is survived by his wife Jane Gillis, four children, his children’s spouses, his grandkids and their spouses and his great-grandkids — a legacy of 27 souls and still growing. A graveside memorial service will be held at the Tooele City Cemetery, at 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, followed by celebration of life luncheon at the Tooele Moose Lodge.
A livestream of the graveside for those unable to attend in person can be viewed at the following link: my.gather.app/remember/herbert-gillis
The family has requested in lieu of flowers that charitable donations be made to Moose Charities. Send checks to Tooele Moose Lodge – Memo: Matt & Jane Gillis, Tooele Moose Lodge 2031, 1100 E. Vine St.,Tooele, Utah 84074
