Barbara Gilliland

Barbara ‘June' Gilliland passed away on July 29, 2015 in Casper, Wyoming. She passed quickly from natural causes after battling vascular dementia in her later years. June Gilliland was born to William Houston and Susie Smith Brashears on June 7, 1931, in Lemitar, NM. She was the youngest of W.H.'s thirteen children and the youngest of his second wife, Susie's, seven children. She was the only child to be delivered by a doctor who just happened to be present while making a house call for her sick brother, Juan. The family eventually moved to Ft. Thomas, AZ where she met her future husband, Charles ‘Charlie' Gilliland, delivering eggs to his family. Charlie later became her bus driver. Despite the couple's twelve year age difference, they fell in love. June always swore she was a year old than she actually was because she was too young to marry Charlie in Arizona. The couple, along with her parents, crossed state lines to Lordsburg, NM to be wed on September 21, 1947 where she could legally be married at 16. Charlie and June began their married life in Morenci, AZ where their oldest son Robert ‘Butch' was born in 1949. Charlie eventually took a position as ranch foreman at the Timberlake Ranch south of Hachita, NM. June cooked over an open fire for the cowboys during roundups with Charlie and Butch. When their daughter, Sharie Ann, was born, Charlie insisted that June spend a few weeks in Deming because he didn't want to deliver a baby and they lived 90 miles from town. The family enjoyed Cloverdale picnics and going to the Hachita dances. In 1956, Charlie took a ranch foreman position in Engle, NM, on the Diamond A Ranch, the Armendaris land grant ranch. The couple's remaining children, Pat and James ‘Jimmy' were born while they lived in Engle. On the Diamond A, June cooked for the cowboys, both during roundups and for those living in the bunkhouse. The cowboys quickly found out, you did NOT wear your hats or spurs in her home. June had a straightforward personality and wasn't shy about sharing her opinion or enforcing her rules. The family moved to Arrey, NM in the summer of 1963 where Charlie went to work for Price Black Dairy. In Arrey, June took a job in the lunchroom at Arrey Elementary School where her skills cooking for a large group were put to good use. Every meal was made from scratch and are fondly remembered by many former students. While living in Arrey, she joined the Salem Baptist Church where she was baptized. June was an active 4-H leader and assisted with the Sierra County 4-H Fair. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for over sixty years. She was active in Republican politics. She worked on numerous campaigns for statewide candidates. She helped host enchilada suppers to "meet the candidates" and raise money for their campaigns. After working on so many campaigns, she finally decided to run for office herself. Her first campaign was for County Commissioner. While that was an unsuccessful race, she didn't give up and continued to work in Republican politics for years. She later successfully ran for Probate Judge and served two terms. Thereafter, her brothers would always refer to her by saying ‘here comes The Judge.' The couple was married for 39 years until Charlie's death in 1986. After Charlie's death, June eventually moved into town and worked a variety of jobs before finally working for and retiring from the New Mexico State Veterans Home. Her hobbies were reading books, playing cards especially Skipbo, Dominoes, and crocheting. Charlie teased her by calling her the happy hooker due to her perpetual crocheting projects. When her first grandchild was born, she became affectionately known as "Grandma Hooker." June loved telling stories and had a wicked sense of humor. June was always available to visit over a cup of coffee and a smoke and once she gave up smoking, it became coffee or a Diet Coke. Family was always important to June. Her many siblings, nieces and nephews, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would come to visit and she enjoyed hosting them. Vacations always involved traveling to see family and as the youngest of thirteen and a grandma of seven, there were many places to visit. June was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Gilliland; her parents and all of her siblings. June is survived by her four children: Robert ‘Butch' (Susan) Gilliland of Dolores, CO, Sharie (Tom) Davis of Casper, WY, Pat (Donna) Gilliland of Las Cruces, NM, and James ‘Jimmy' Gatlin of Truth or Consequences, NM; seven grandchildren: Orrin (Stacy) Davis, Shayna (Rick) Clemmons, Chad (Sara) Gilliland, Calee Gilliland, Shanae (Andrew) Johnson, Tyler Gilliland, and Trevor Gilliland; ten great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Robert L. (Mary Ann) Gilliland of St. George, UT; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at the Caballo Church with Rev. Jack Cain officiating. June's family will be receiving visitors at the church before and after the services. Lunch will follow. There will be a private inurnment at the Arrey Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wyoming Dementia Care, P.O. Box 1493, Casper, WY 82602-1493.