THOMASVILLE —



Gwendolyn Opal “Mimi” Pillow, 77, went to be with her savior surrounded by her family on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, of an unexpected illness. Gwen was born in Thomasville, Ga., on July 2, 1935, to the late L.O. Buster and Eva Mae Willis. She graduated from Thomasville High School, where she proudly performed as a majorette for the Thomasville High Bulldogs. She met and married the love of her life, Mickey Pillow, in 1954. He moved his “Georgia Peach” to Texas, where they started their family in Baytown. Gwen quickly became involved with several volunteer organizations in the area, which included her passion to help children with special needs. She was also a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where she held several leadership positions. She worked for the U.S. Postal Service and Citizens National Bank in Baytown until her retirement in 1988. She and Mickey retired to Goliad, Texas, in 1994, where she was a member of First Baptist Church of Goliad, as well as the Trail Head Cowboy Church. Gwen’s greatest accomplishments are her three children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Mickey Pillow; her sister, Hilda, and husband, Mark Ellerbee, of Tallahassee, Fla.; her brother, Len, and wife, Trish Willis, of Knoxville, Tenn.; her son, Mike Pillow, of Rosenberg, Texas; granddaughter, Catie, and husband, Trevor Bird; great-granddaughter, Millie Grace; great-grandson, William Reece; granddaughter, Adriane Pillow and fiancé, Adam Smith; great-granddaughters, Charlee Sue and Preslee Jayne of New Braunfels, Texas; her daughter, Shelley, and husband, Teddy Head of Goliad, Texas; her grandson, Jake Albright; and great-granddaughter, Jaiden Albright of Baytown, Texas; her granddaughter, Jaquelyn, and husband, Rene Rubio; and great-grandson, Ryan of Goliad, Texas; grandson, Kendall Shrum of Pasadena, Texas; daughter, Lynda and husband, Ronnie Koehn of Cypress, Texas; granddaughters, Kandy, and husband, Eli Reddoch; great-grandsons, Garrett and Riley, of Houston, Texas; and granddaughter, Heather Koehn of Cypress, Texas. Gwen is also survived by numerous extended family members and friends who loved her dearly. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Deana Boullion. Family and friends are welcome for visitation Monday, Nov. 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Grace Funeral Home, 214 N. Market St. in Goliad, Texas 77963. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at First Baptist Church of Goliad Highway 183 and Ward Road, Goliad, Texas 77963. Burial will follow at Glendale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to First Baptist Church or Trail Head Cowboy Church. — Grace Funeral Home, Victoria, Texas