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Thomas Mortimer “Mort” Gilkison

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Thomas Mortimer “Mort” Gilkison

Birth
Death
8 Oct 2006 (aged 91)
Burial
Mound City, Linn County, Kansas, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Obituary:
Thomas Mortimer "Mort" Gilkison died at his home on October 8, 2006. Funeral mass will be 10:30 A.M., Thursday, October 12th at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 8311 W. 93rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66212. Graveside services will be 2:30 P.M., Thursday in Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Centerville, KS. Visitation will be 6-8:00 P.M., Wednesday, October 11th at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf with the rosary prayed at 6:30 P.M. The family suggest memorial contributions to Kansas City Hospice, 9221 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64114.

Mort was born December 29, 1914 in Highwood, IL. He was the younger of two sons born to Thaddeus Mortimer Gilkison and Mary Lucille Fitt. He attended grammar school in Highwood and high school in Evanston, IL. In 1936, he graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. He graduate from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1938 with a Master's of Science Degree. Mort was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma, professional chemical fraternity, and Phi Lambda Upsilon, honorary chemical fraternity. He was employed by Anderson Clayton & Company for work in vegetable oil refining research in Ft. Worth, TX. He married Elizabeth Mary Bartley in 1940 at St. Mary's Church in Ft. Worth, TX and moved to Abilene, TX. He designed and built a small vegetable oil refinery near Torreon, Mexico. He spent three years in Monterrey, Mexico as an assistant manager of a vegetable oil products plant and eight years in Sao Paulo, Brazil as the manager of a vegetable oil products plant. In 1962, he changed careers and worked as a senior engineer in the aerospace division of Hercules, Inc., which produced Minuteman, Polaris and Poseidon intercontinental missiles. Mort moved to Overland Park in 1968, and worked on the design and construction of a Nitroguanidine facility at Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. He was a member of Holy Cross parish since 1968, where he was a member of the choir, Sunshine Club, in which he served as treasurer, and Holy Cross Bridge Club. He had many hobbies, including woodworking and over the years he made several items of furniture and numerous gifts for his family, church and his many friends. He was also an avid crossword, word game and bridge player. He had many varied interests, including trains. His father was a conductor on the North Shore Commuter Railroad. Mort actively followed world class ice-skating and became friends with many world class skaters and their families. He shared this interest with over 60 pen pals around the world. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Joseph Ivan. Mort is survived by his wife, Betty of the home; son, Thomas of Kansas City, daughter, Mary and her husband Richard Wilson of Centerville, KS. He is also survived by his niece, Marie Bartley Coppola of New jersey; nephew, Joseph Ivan Gilkison of Virginia and niece, Jeanne Marie Cooper of Canada. Mort made a positive difference in many people's lives and will be greatly missed.
Obit from D.W. Newcomer's Sons Funeral Home
Obituary:
Thomas Mortimer "Mort" Gilkison died at his home on October 8, 2006. Funeral mass will be 10:30 A.M., Thursday, October 12th at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 8311 W. 93rd Street, Overland Park, KS 66212. Graveside services will be 2:30 P.M., Thursday in Wesley Chapel Cemetery, Centerville, KS. Visitation will be 6-8:00 P.M., Wednesday, October 11th at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Overland Park Chapel, 8201 Metcalf with the rosary prayed at 6:30 P.M. The family suggest memorial contributions to Kansas City Hospice, 9221 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64114.

Mort was born December 29, 1914 in Highwood, IL. He was the younger of two sons born to Thaddeus Mortimer Gilkison and Mary Lucille Fitt. He attended grammar school in Highwood and high school in Evanston, IL. In 1936, he graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. He graduate from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1938 with a Master's of Science Degree. Mort was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma, professional chemical fraternity, and Phi Lambda Upsilon, honorary chemical fraternity. He was employed by Anderson Clayton & Company for work in vegetable oil refining research in Ft. Worth, TX. He married Elizabeth Mary Bartley in 1940 at St. Mary's Church in Ft. Worth, TX and moved to Abilene, TX. He designed and built a small vegetable oil refinery near Torreon, Mexico. He spent three years in Monterrey, Mexico as an assistant manager of a vegetable oil products plant and eight years in Sao Paulo, Brazil as the manager of a vegetable oil products plant. In 1962, he changed careers and worked as a senior engineer in the aerospace division of Hercules, Inc., which produced Minuteman, Polaris and Poseidon intercontinental missiles. Mort moved to Overland Park in 1968, and worked on the design and construction of a Nitroguanidine facility at Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. He was a member of Holy Cross parish since 1968, where he was a member of the choir, Sunshine Club, in which he served as treasurer, and Holy Cross Bridge Club. He had many hobbies, including woodworking and over the years he made several items of furniture and numerous gifts for his family, church and his many friends. He was also an avid crossword, word game and bridge player. He had many varied interests, including trains. His father was a conductor on the North Shore Commuter Railroad. Mort actively followed world class ice-skating and became friends with many world class skaters and their families. He shared this interest with over 60 pen pals around the world. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Joseph Ivan. Mort is survived by his wife, Betty of the home; son, Thomas of Kansas City, daughter, Mary and her husband Richard Wilson of Centerville, KS. He is also survived by his niece, Marie Bartley Coppola of New jersey; nephew, Joseph Ivan Gilkison of Virginia and niece, Jeanne Marie Cooper of Canada. Mort made a positive difference in many people's lives and will be greatly missed.
Obit from D.W. Newcomer's Sons Funeral Home


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