Ray N. Gilkison

Ray Nathan Gilkison, 77, of Davenport, Iowa died Saturday, August 20, 2005 at the Good Samaritan Center, Davenport. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Chapel, Bettendorf. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Ray was born November 14, 1927 in Centerville, Iowa, the son of a coal miner, John, and his wife, Effie (Wilty) Gilkison. He married his wife of 47 years, Ada Madeline Shaw in 1947 in Centerville. She preceded him in death in 1993.
Ray retired from Oscar Meyer Co. in Davenport after a 25 year career. He was a union man, son of a union man, father of a union man. Ray especially enjoyed spending time watching John Wayne movies, playing cards, and sharing stories with his “best buddy” grandson, James.
Those left to honor his memory include his daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda & Robert Schmidt, Davenport, and Donna & Kerry Brush, Federal Way, Washington; his son and daughter-in-law, Gary & Judy Gilkison, Davenport; his grandchildren, Treona Malvar, Ryan and Amy Schmidt, Monica, Natalie, and James Gilkison; his great-grandchildren, JanaLynn and Jordan; and his sisters-in-law, Doris Wales, Marie Gilkison, and Esther Gilkison.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Stella Brinkley, Marge Overturf, Margarette Eagle, Ruth Hemze, and Murnee and Opal Gilkison; his brothers Harry, Jim, Clyde, and Lloyd Gilkison; and his best friend, Joe Fogler.
The family would like to give a special thanks to the caring staff at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus, and the Davenport Good Samaritan Center.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Ray’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.