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Mittie Jean Pilcher, born in Birmingham AL, moved shortly afterward with her parents Walter and Loretta and brother Walter Jr. to Baton Rouge where she roller skated to Dufrocq Elementary from their home on Buckner Dr. (now S. Eugene St) and studied piano under the tutorage of Castro Carazo, LSU bandleader and composer for Huey Long. Following her graduation from Baton Rouge High School, Mittie attended LSU and was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. While working at the LA State Capitol, she met and later married Thomas T. Gillen and after a brief stint experimenting with dairy farming in Livingston Parish, (described as not really her chosen occupation), they moved back to the city and had two sons, Mike and Pat. Active in social circles, she enjoyed coordinating and hosting events at their home on Perkins Rd for her children's school, members of the State Legislature and US Congress, friends, family and holiday occasions. When not entertaining, cooking and focusing on her family's activities, Mittie enjoyed life to its fullest. Whether attending Broadway performances, the Seattle World's Fair, horseback riding in Montana and Wyoming, piloting single-engine aircraft, whitewater rafting in Arkansas, whale watching in Alaska, ancient ruin exploration in Guatemala and Mexico, boating along the Gulf Coast, playing dominos with her friends, tending to plants, fishing the calm backwaters of south Louisiana, or visiting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Mittie lived her life with dignity and grace. Mittie P. Gillen left us Monday, January 7, 2019 at the age of 88, but she is certainly not forgotten. Preceded in death by her parents, brother and former husband Tom, she leaves behind her legacy with two sons, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Michael Shane Gillen and his daughters Elizabeth Gillen and Katherine/John Byrne and their daughter Ginny; Patrick Thornton Gillen/Judi with children Colin Gillen and Kelsey/John Ballard and their son Willie as well as a host of other friends, cousins, nieces and nephews. A special thanks to Steven Warren, Aaron Bergeron, and Kaitlyn Barton who were always so very kind and caring to Mom. A reception commemorating Mittie's life will be held at Juban's Restaurant on Saturday, January 12 from 1-3pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Sending you our love and prayers. I wish I could have met this wonderful and inspirational woman! What a life she had! So appropriate to celebrate! My heartfelt condolences
Logan Flynn
January 11, 2019
Mike and Pat,
So sorry to learn of your mother's passing. What a life well lived! When I last spoke with her she was volunteering and we talked about our families. She was very proud of you two! I'll keep you all in my prayers.
Denise Hill Dowell
January 10, 2019
our throughs and prayers are always with her
gary buser
January 9, 2019
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