Obituary of DOROTHY JEAN GILSTRAP

Dorothy Jean Gilstrap (Taylor) August 3, 1931 – July 13, 2018 Dorothy was born in Quarles, Missouri to Everett and Bessie Taylor. She was the big sister to William Taylor (Deceased), Reatha Ciotti and Joyce Knatz. They lived and grew up on a large farm there until the family moved to Wallowa, Oregon where she went to high school. She later went to Oregon State University in 1949. While living in Corvalis Oregon she met a handsome Texan Billy Ray Gilstrap (Deceased) and got married on September 3, 1950. They moved to California and settled in Petaluma where she was a homemaker and mother to her 5 children Michael (Ruth Ann), David (Eddi), Ricky (Zoanne), Connie (Don) and Anita. She had 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. When the kids were older Dorothy went to work as a Nurses Aid and spent most of her career at Santa Rosa Community Hospital until she retired. She then helped her husband Bill at their locksmith shop in Petaluma until he retired. Dorothy and Bill moved to Veneta Oregon in 1997 where they lived until 2010. They then moved back to California to Shingle Springs to be closer to family. Bill passed away shortly after moving there. Dorothy was a very active member with the Church of Christ in Petaluma, Veneta, Oregon and finally in Rescue, California. She loved her church family. Dorothy’s passion was gardening and sewing. She was a quilter and made and gave away her patch work quilts to family and friends. She made most of them for hospitals and gave them to mothers for their new born babies, and she was involved with Sewing for Vets. The veterans received a handmade blanket made by her while they were in the hospital. Dorothy’s kidneys failed and she was on Dialysis for the last year until she became too weak to continue treatment. She wanted to be in her home while she was on dialysis and was surrounded by family when she peacefully passed away. She was 86. She was loved by all. There will not be any service at her request. We only ask that you remember in your hearts as we do.