Patricia "Patty" Louise Gilligan

Patricia (Patty) Louise Willard Gilligan passed away peacefully at the age of 69 (so close to 70!) on December 23, 2023 surrounded by her family and fur babies.  A devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, she leaves behind a legacy of laughs, strength, and love that will live on in those who knew her.

Born on January 15, 1954 in Emporia, Kansas to Glendon (Glen) and Eva Louise (Mize) Willard, she was the youngest of six. Patty grew up on farms outside of Neosho Rapids, KS where her love of all creatures grew as she cared for cats, dogs, and even a pet racoon. Growing up spending lots of time with her Willard and Mize aunts, uncles, and cousins left a legacy of great stories of hijinks and adventures.

She attended Hartford High School where she played clarinet in the band, told the best dirty jokes, and met the love of her life, Frederick (Fred) Gilligan. Patty continued to Emporia State University to study Business Education where she developed lifelong friendships. Fred joined her at ESU a year later and their love story blossomed even more. They were married on August 17, 1974 and would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this next year. A short year and half after they were married, they welcomed their first child, Denise (Emporia, KS) into their lives. Shortly thereafter the family grew with the arrival of Rob (Cape Girardeau, Mo) and Andrea (Leavenworth, Ks). As a young family with lots of energy, Patty was a stay at home mom during the earlier years of her children’s lives.  Over the years she made clothes, crafts, and special items for her young family to enjoy, but also for her beloved large Willard and Gilligan extended families. She worked very hard to know and keep in touch with all of her many nieces and nephews over the years. As the kids grew and entered 4-H, she would often help with craft projects and taking the lead helping the kids get ready for the fair.

In 1980, Fred and Patty made their first Marriage Encounter weekend and met the first group of M.E. friends that would grow over the years and become like a second family. This also led to meeting the Ellis family in 1984 who held a very special place in Patty’s heart. She and Ellen would cook up grand adventures and spend a lot of time laughing around kitchen tables.

Patty reentered the workforce in 1984 with the City of Emporia as the Personnel Secretary. Over her 32-year career she worked her way up to Human Relations Director. She worked tirelessly to improve the housing codes, to develop low income housing in the Emporia Community, and to ensure fair employment practices. When asked about her work accomplishments she said “I had a feeling in me of what was right and I tried to do that, to help people in the community and do what was right.” She met many various people during her professional career and was highly respected in her field.

Patty’s heart grew even bigger with the arrival of her grandchildren Michael, Maddux, and Grace. She took every opportunity to spend any time possible spoiling, laughing, and entertaining her grandchildren. She was thrilled that she was able to travel with them on a family trip to Branson before her health issues prevented travel. Shows, arcades, Christmas lights, food- she wanted them to experience it all! Grandma was a role she took very seriously!

After her retirement in 2016, she and Fred traveled while they could and had an open home and many people made a point to drop in to see them. As her health declined, she spent more time at home but made every effort to be up for a visit whenever anyone she loved made the time to come by.

Patty was proceeded in death by her parents, brother Richard (Dick) and wife Marlene Willard, sister in law Diane Willard, brother in law Ed Schneider; mother in law Alice Gilligan, brother in law Tom Gilligan and wife Betty, sisters in law Virginia Gilligan and Juanita Gilligan, and brother in laws Richard Gorman and John Herrick.  She is survived by siblings Glendon (Roy) Willard Jr. (Seattle, WA), Robert (Bob) (Mary) Willard (Reading, Ks), Margaret (Peggy) Schneider (Augusta, Ks) and David (Tom) Willard (Lake St. Louis, Mo); in laws Donna (Jim) Gales (Atchison, Ks), Dave (Linda Harry) Gilligan (Broken Arrow, Ok), Mary (Dee) Baxter (Broken Arrow, Ok) Margaret Herrick (Shawnee, Ks), Dennis Gilligan (Emporia, Ks), Bill (Rosemary) Gilligan, (Savonburg, Ks), many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and even great-great nieces and nephews, in large extended family on both sides, as well as many, many friends.  She leaves her husband Fred, daughter Denise, son Rob (Kelly McEnerney), daughter Andrea (Shawn Evans), grandsons Michael and Maddux, granddaughter Grace, and her beloved cats Ginny, QT, and Sugar Bear.

A Remembrance Celebration will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Hartford Community Center (117 Commercial, Hartford, Ks) for all family and friends. Rosary will be at 10:00am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Sacred Heart Church (102 Exchange, Emporia, Ks). Inurnment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery (Angus Road & Road 95, Hartford, Ks).

Memorial contributions in her name can be made to the Emporia Eastside Community Group or your favorite animal rescue charity of choice in care of the funeral home.