Born: March 3, 1937 - Deceased: January 10, 2024
Shirley J. Gass, nee Jackson, 86, of Belleville, IL, born Thursday, March 4, 1937, in Clinton,KY, passed away Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at her residence, surrounded by her loving family.
Shirley loved her family with her entire heart. She made sure to let her sons, Jeffrey and Bradley, know that her greatest joy and accomplishment in her life was being their mother. After the boys were grown, she worked part-time at Jan’s Hallmark to pass her new found free time. Shirley also looked forward to and enjoyed attending monthly lunches with her group of high school friends.
She was preceded in death by her:
- Loving husband:
- Joseph F. Gass
- Parents:
- James Roy and Zelma L., nee Hill, Jackson
- Sister:
- Marnell O’Meara
- Brothers:
- Kenneth Jackson
- Roy Jerold Jackson
- Sister-in-law:
- Dorothy Brawley and her husband Virgil, Florence Nesbit
- Brother-in-laws:
- Marvin McNatt
- Jim Gass
- Ed Nesbit
Surviving are her:
- Sons:
- Jeff (Gena) Gass of Belleville, IL
- Brad (Sheri) Gass of Mesa, AZ
- Sister:
- Sue McNatt
- Sister-in-law:
- Toni Gass of Marissa, IL
- Brother-in-laws:
- Bill (Sharron) Gass of Marrisa, IL
- David O’Meara of Escondido, CA
- Grandchildren:
- A.J. Gass
- Adam (Mandy) Gass
- Aaron (Mackenzie) Gass
- Morgan Gass
- Bryce Gass
- Great-grandchild:
- Grayson
- Many nieces, nephews and cousins
Special Thanks: Family wanted to extend a special thank you Heartland Hospice and her care giver, Therese Frazier, for the love and care that they provided during their time together.
Memorials: Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice or to the American Cancer Society.
Visitation: Visitation will take place from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 13, 2024 at St. Matthew Church in Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm, January 13, 2024 at St. Matthew Church, in Belleville, IL with Pastor Bob Swickard officiating.
7 Comments
We all loved Shirley. She was always so upbeat and Happy… fun to be around. Loving and kind. We will miss her
Aunt Shirley was a gem. We loved her dearly and she will be so missed. Jeff and Brad, your Mom (and Dad) were some of the finest most kind people I have ever known! May God’s grace shine upon you and your family!
What an honor and a privilege it was for me to serve as Shirley’s Hospice Nurse. I could literally write pages of all of the wonderful, fun talks we have had over the many months of our nursing visits together. She was not only my patient, but she quickly became my friend. When we talked about her family she glowed with such pride and joy, as no matter how she was feeling she would light up as bright as a Christmas Tree! They were her prize possession, whom she loved with all of her heart.
From early on she and I loved to talk about food and recipes together. One day she talked about how much she loved her Mother’s turnip greens, and how she hadn’t had any of these since her Mother passed away. I told Shirley that my Mother was from the South and that she had taught me how to make them, and that they were my favorite! I told her that I would make some for her and bring them to her next time I came. That next nursing visit, as soon as I walked into her door her first words were, “Did you remember my turnip greens?” I laughed and said, ” I sure did!” She immediately had me heat some up for her, and with her first bite said, “Mmm, just like Mama used to make!” I was so happy to have been able to bring her such a simple joy and a beautiful smile to her face! She was so special to me, and I am truly going to miss her. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Jeff, Gena, Brad and all of the family for entrusting me to serve as Shirley’s Hospice Nurse. You are such a wonderful family, and I pray that God will bless each of you and give you peace and strength as you go through this difficult time of loss of this precious, beautiful, loving Mother, Grandmother, Sister, and Friend ❤️🙏
Shirley, until we meet again in Heaven, I love you and I will miss you!
Lora Rodgers, RN
Heartland Hospice
Brad & Jeff ~ your mother was the happiest and most supportive of not only you boys but of your teachers. She was such a joy to know and will be so missed. Our thoughts & prayers are with you & your families. From Harry & Rose Statham
To Brad, Jeff, Gina and the rest of the Gass family. It was an honor to meet Shirley on multiple occasions and her personality lit up the room! I remember one year we hosted her for Thanksgiving and it was so fun getting to know her. God Bless you all and I am confident she is up there with Joe now running the show!
Love
Mark and Susana Lewis
I love you Miss Shirley! While we will all miss you very very much, it warms my heart to know you and Mr. Joe are reunited in heaven. If I ever get on the Price is Right, I will make sure to not take the showcase with a motorcycle or a boat lol. I have so much love for you and the entire Gass family!
-Your friend
Chrystal Faulkner ❤️
To Shirley’s entire family,
I’m sad to learn that Shirley has passed and that I missed her funeral. We met in junior high school, worked together at Edison Brothers, and kept in touch for years. I remember Roy and Zelma and was always happy to have a chance to stop by and say hello. I went to grade school with Joe’s younger brother Jim.
Shirley was always fun to be with–she was a great partner with Joe and his big smile. They came to visit us the evening they became engaged! We had babies in the early to mid-60s, Jeff and Brad Gass and my three–Anne, David, and Janet Koleson. Because neither Shirley nor I worked when the children were small, it was easy to get together, often on the spur of the moment with balogna sandwiches, strollers and diaper bags. (Formal play dates didn’t exist back then!) When my children were school age, I went to work and school fulltime, so our mom and kids days ended, but all of our children went to the old West High School on Main Street. All the fun memories remain. My thoughts are with each of Shirley’s family. RIP.