Obituary of Julie Ann Gillis

Julie Ann Gillis was born at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia Washington on August 18, 1960 to Bill and Julie Gillis. In 1962, as a toddler, she moved with her mother to California eventually settling in Concord, where she attended Ignacio Valley High School. Julie graduated from High School in 1978. Soon after, her mother and step-father married and she moved with them to Arlington Virginia before returning home to the Olympia Washington area to attend St. Martin’s College in Lacey. When Julie finished college with her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology, she moved to Central Washington’s Yakima Valley and began her professional life as a dispatcher for the Yakima Public Safety Department. In August of 2000 she moved again to California where she spent 12 years working for Kaiser Permanente. In her fortieth year, she once more returned to the South Puget Sound, finally settling in Shelton. Julie worked for the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department for fifteen years. She was active Special Olympics volunteer and advocate for Special Olympians. She was an active and outgoing person with a vivacious personality. She was preceded in death by her birth father, and is survived by her mother, step-father, and brothers and sister, as well as her dog Sydney who was her adopted baby. In her late forties, she contracted thyroidal cancer, which she overcame. Early this year she was again diagnosed with cancer, this time, in her ovaries. On June 25th, she passed away from us but lives on in the hearts of her family and friends. Her legacy is one of hope, caring, and devotion to those she loved. Memorial Services will be hosted by Freedom Baptist Church at the Hope Chapel, 421 W. “E” Street in Shelton Washington on Friday morning, July 3rd at 11 o’clock, with Dr. Jerry Cummings officiating. In lieu of flowers her family has requested donations to The Special Olympics Program in memory of Julie.