Obituary for Michael Robert Gillis Born August 24, 1943 in Plymouth, Michigan; died July 7 in El Paso, Texas. His parents Edward and Velma Gillis and former wife Elizabeth preceded him in death. Survived by his siblings Donna (Tom); Jim (Joanne), John (Candace); and Rick (Chris), and numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
So much for the rote facts. Mike was always guided by his keen interest in out-of-the -ordinary ventures, and he was by nature a daredevil of sorts. He qualified as a sky diver and made numerous jumps, but he became intrigued by the view from the cockpit so he earned his commercial pilot’s license soon thereafter and plied that trade at aviation facilities in Roswell, Albuquerque and Farmington.
He flew medical emergency missions on and off the Navajo Reservation, landing sometimes at night on remote dirt roads guided only by the headlights of a pickup truck. More prosaically, he delivered passengers and cargo across the Southwest at airports large and small. But “driving an airborne bus” was less interesting after he married, so he began a stint as a skilled millwright working to overhaul coal fired power plants in the New Mexico-Arizona region.
Mike was aware that computers were becoming the wave of the future, and he took courses at both UNM and CNM to become a programmer. He used that education at New Mexico Tech, New Mexico Gas Company and Southern Union Gas Company for several years. He later worked with his brother Jim in a business providing environmental service equipment for schools, hospitals and other large facilities in Texas and southern New Mexico.
In retirement, he made numerous motorcycle road trips with friends and family to obscure but interesting places. In many ways, Mike embodied the human qualities that most of us strive for but sometimes fall short in achieving. He was slow to judge but quick to forgive.
He had strong beliefs but never tried to impose them on others. He was open to and accepting of friend and stranger alike, and the latter often became fast friends. Mike was the first to offer help and the last to quit.
He gave his word and never failed to deliver. He was fun to be around, had a quick smile, and offered encouragement to those seeking advice or support whenever it was sought. We miss him terribly but we will always remember the good and kind human being he was and will hold him forever in our hearts.
God bless and God speed, Mike. In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be on Monday July 16, 2018 from 7:00PM to 8:00PM at Sunset Funeral Home West, 480 N. Resler Dr. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home West.
Please visit our online registry at www. sunsetfuneralhomes.net. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Michael Robert Gillis please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events Celebration of Life 2018 JUL 16. 07:00 PM – 08:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home-West 480 N. Resler Dr. El Paso, TX, US, 79912 Order Flowers for the Celebration of Life Guaranteed delivery before Michael’s Celebration of Life begins.
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