Carol J. Gillman, 60, of rural route Sherman passed away Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, at St. John's Hospice in the presence of her family. For almost five years, Carol heroically fought stage III ovarian cancer, taking chemotherapy on 117 days.

Carol was born in Owosso, Mich., on Nov. 27, 1948, the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Bauer. She married Michael Gillman on July 1, 1972, in Buffalo Hart.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Surviving are her husband, Michael Gillman; two daughters, Emily Gillman Dale (husband, Nels) of San Diego and Sara Gillman of Springfield; two sisters, Cathy (Dave) Anderson of Poway, Calif., and Peggy Bauel of Fort Collins, Colo.; five brothers, Robert (Denise), Marty (Dianne), Michael (Amy) and Alan (Amy), all of the Denver area, and Jim (Mickey) Bauel of Las Vegas; and 22 nieces and nephews.

Carol graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in French, with a minor in English. She earned a teaching certificate from Eastern Illinois University and obtained a master's degree in library science from the University of Illinois in 1980.

She taught school for 15 years, beginning at Tri-City High School, followed by Ursuline Academy, Lanphier High School, Grant Middle School and Springfield College. She was a librarian at Lincoln Public Library for 17 years.

In her younger years, she was a draft counselor during the Vietnam War. She was one of the founding members of RICS (Rape Information and Counseling Services). She supported organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Lincoln Memorial Gardens. She was a member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

Carol loved good literature, art, traveling, the beauty of the outdoors, nature and working in her flower garden. After long walks, Carol enjoyed watching sunsets on Lake Michigan during summer company trips and on the prairie between Buffalo Hart and Sherman with her loving husband.

Burial will be in Wolf Creek Cemetery

Published in The State Journal-Register on 1/24/2009