Emma Laura Rush Gillogly of Joplin, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, August 4th, 2015 at age 94. She was born on February 11, 1921 in Gallup, New Mexico, to Lowry and Marion (Bollinger) Rush.
Her husband, Charles Owen Gillogly, preceded her in death on April 28, 1997. She is also preceded in death by one son, John Charles Gillogly, in October 1943 and one brother, William Rush, 1997.
Laura was born and lived in Gallup, New Mexico, until she was 5 years old. She then moved to Rock Point, Arizona where her father was a trader with the Navajo people. At age 6, her family moved to Culver City, California, where she often tagged along with her father on his Good Humor Ice Cream route through the Hollywood studio district. At age 7, she moved to Sanders, Arizona, and then to Ft. Defiance, Arizona. She was a tomboy and played every sport with the exception of football. Growing up, she learned to be fair, accepting and tolerant to people of all races and backgrounds.
After graduating from high school, Laura moved to Montana and attended business college. She explored the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming and took an interest in learning about the Indian tribes of that region. She attended the University of Montana in Missoula where she met her future husband, Charles. They were married on April 22, 1941 in Salmon, Idaho. During college, she worked at a variety of jobs; at a bakery, for a beef seller, and at a music machine shop.
In 1941, Charles graduated from Naval Officers' Candidate School in Chicago as an Ensign, USNR, and he returned to Gallup to reunite with Laura and their infant son, Hugh. In 1945, they relocated to Washington, D.C., where they had four more children; Brian, Margaret, (Laura) Teresa and Kevin. While in Washington, Laura supported Charles' business obligations and stayed busy organizing family and social events.
In 1969, the family moved to Joplin, Missouri, to join Charles, who had taken a position as an executive with Tri-State Motor Transit Company. They traveled and enjoyed their life together until Charles’ death. After Charles passed, she traveled extensively to 31 countries including India, Peru, Spain, Ireland and Vietnam, as well as throughout the Southwestern United States. Laura enjoyed gaining an appreciation of the differences and similarities between people of different cultures.
In Joplin, she was active in civic and community groups including the Joplin Women's Bowling Association, the Schifferdecker Ladies Golf Association, Joplin Ladies of the Elks, St. John's Hospice, St. John's Auxiliary as a Pink Lady Volunteer, Horizons Unlimited Investments and the Literary Lions at MSSU. She enjoyed the activities at the Joplin Senior Center, especially playing pool.
Laura is survived by son Hugh (Kay) Gillogly, of Houston, Texas; grandchildren Jeannette (Pete) Spehar, Nicole Meyer, Michael (Anna) Gillogly, Terrence (Krystin) Gillogly, son Brian (JoAnne) Gillogly of Sugarland, Texas, granddaugther Carla (Jason) Torres, son Kevin (Julie) Gillogly of Republic, Missouri, granddaughters Kristen (Shannon) Woods, and Lauren (Chris) Slater, daughter Margaret (Jerry) Bishop of Springfield, Missouri and daughter Teresa (Daniel) Brothers of Joplin, Missouri, granddaughters Jennifer (Lucas) Wetzel, Jessica Brothers, Jillian (Justin) Rourke, Jonna (Dave) Bunten. She is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren Nicholas, Alexander, Sydney, B'Elanna, Annika, Emerson, Ava, Nicholas C., Norah, Bella, Sophia, Olivia, Maxwell, Oliver, Ruby, Emil and Wren.
Laura’s family would like to thank everyone who contributed to her full life by sharing their companionship and experiences with Laura, as well as sharing her curiosity and open-mindedness. Special thanks to College View Manor, Compassus Hospice and her health care providers over the years.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11th at Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary with Fr. Fergus Monaghan officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, prior to the service.
Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin, Missouri.
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