John Patrick “Johnny” Gilmore

John Patrick “Johnny” Gilmore died 8:00 PM Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Houston, Texas.
John was born on January 5, 1912 in Chicopee, Kan., to Charles and Alice (Ferns) Gilmore. He was the first of their 12 children.  He attended Cherokee schools but left school at 16 to work in the coal mines with his father and grandfather.
November 20, 1937, he married Helen Winifred Harry at the rectory of St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Chicopee.  The couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this past November.  Helen preceded him in death in February.
He joined the pipefitters local union out of Joplin, Mo.  John worked in various locations though out the US. John was called up by the US Army for World War II but was working in Lake Charles, La., building a refinery at the Port and received a deferment as the government marked this project as a priority.
John was a lifetime member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. He was a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and was a Grand Knight. He served as the Grand Counselor of United Commercial Travelers and was a member of the Elks.
John worked for the Pittsburg Fire Dept. for 12 years.  On his off days he began doing plumbing and pipefitting work. He opened his own business, John Gilmore Plumbing and Heating,  He and Helen operated it together for more than 30 years. In 1978 John retired and spent the next 20 years living at Grand Lake of the Cherokees in Oklahoma and spending  winters in Naples and Fort Myers, Fla. John is survived by is daughter and son-in-law, Mary Nell and Chuck Pierson of Houston, Texas; son and daughter-in-law Glen and Verla Gilmore of Amarillo, Texas; son Mike Gilmore of Falls City, Neb.; Grandchildren, Terry Gilmore, Robert Gilmore, and Glenda McCrary, Jim Gilmore, Judy Tran, Jackie Gilmore, Jeff Gilmore, Joshua Gilmore, Charles Pierson, Nathaniel Kyle Pierson, Jeremy Pierson, Jonathan Pierson, Robin Anlissa Pierson, and Cassie Gilmore.  He also had 21 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.  John’s youngest great grandchild was born on Wed. Oct. 1st in Katy, Texas and was named William John Pierson in honor of his great grandfather.
Two sons, John Patrick Gilmore, Jr. and James Robert Gilmore, one granddaughter Karen Lucille Gilmore, preceded him in death.
John is also survived by four brothers, Leo, Pete, Danny, and Thomas Gilmore and three sisters Mary Alice Zakowski; Frances Ann Deckard all of Pittsburg, Rose Wente of Springfield, MO and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special care was provided to John by his son-in-law Chuck Pierson and his grandson Jeremy Pierson and the staff of VITAS Hospice of Houston, Texas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday October 6th at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg with Father Thomas Stroot as celebrant; burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery.  The parish rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg.  Per John’s request an Irish Wake will immediately follow the rosary at the funeral home.  Friends may call after 1 p.m. Sunday. Pallbearers will be grandsons Jeremy Pierson; Rob Gilmore; Jim Gilmore; nephews John Gilmore; Tommy Gilmore; and great grandson Nathan McCrary.
Condolences can be sent to www.bathnaylor.com.  Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Fund, Pittsburg, KS or to the Sacred Heart Shamrock Fund. Memorials may be brought by or mailed to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, Kan., 66762.