Obituary: Dr. Barbara Ellen Gilliss

Dr. Barbara Ellen Gilliss. (Courtesy)

Dr. Barbara Ellen Gilliss. (Courtesy)

Dr. Barbara Ellen Gilliss, of Prescott, Arizona, died peacefully Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at the age of 82. She was born in Lewiston, Idaho and later moved to Walla Walla Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Barbara married Harvey Keating June 18,1960 in Portland Oregon. They had 2 children, Brian and Kimberly, both born in Oregon. Harvey’s career moved the family to Honolulu, Hawaii in 1965. They divorced in 1974.

From 1970-1980 she worked in the Hawaii State Department of Education as a Curriculum Development Specialist. Barbara loved learning and being involved in teaching. She earned her Master Degree in Administration at the University of Hawaii in 1972. Barbara loved music as much as education. She was very active in Hawaii’s quartet community. Music, singing and entertaining were some of the things that drew her and her second husband, Max Gilliss together - they both loved to entertain and sing. Max the musician and vocalist, Barbara the vocalist and occasional hula dancer.

Barbara married Max Gilliss in 1977 at the Kahala Hilton, in Honolulu. They moved to Los Angeles, Calif. in 1979. She worked as a teacher at the University Elementary School - UCLA for several years. She then started her own business as a Consultant Organizational Management specialist. She was listed in the Who’s Who of American Women 1989-1990. She earned her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of San Diego in 1994.

Barbara and Max moved to Temecula Calif., where they built a home in wine country. They lived there from 1982-1994. There they owned and operated a franchise of Uniglobe Butterfield Travel. Barbara was a traveler and any chance she got she went - she has been around the world and had many adventures. They sold the business and the house after building a house in Prescott in 1994.

As soon as Barbara moved to Prescott, she became involved. She jumped right in and joined several choral groups. She was part of Yavapai’s Master Chorale, Prescott Community Chorale, Unity Church Choir and the quartet Worth Waiting Four. She enjoyed ushering at Prescott Center of the Arts and when there were musical performances at Yavapai College. She volunteered at Sharlot Hall Museum and was the Chair of Prescott Centennial in 2011.

She is proceeded in death by her husband, Max Gilliss who passed in 2005. Barbara is survived by her son, Brian Keating, daughter-in-law, Sherry Keating of Redwood City, Cailf. and daughter, Kimberly Smith, son-in-law, Robert Smith of Grants Pass, Oregon; four grandchildren, Courtney Hamilton, Tayler Monigold, Hailey Keating Haw and Shane Keating and 2 great grandchildren, Violet and Ryan Hamilton.

Barbara’s family would like to thank Maggie’s Hospice, Arizona Care Management and Alta Vista for the excellent care they provided to her. There will be a memorial at Unity Church in Prescott in the near future. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Maggie’s Hospice.

Information provided by survivors.


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