Genger Mae (Phelps) Gilliam, 86, passed away on August 10, 2021. She was the first child born to Bonnie Mae (Chaney) and Denver Robbins Phelps on May 21, 1935, in Tishomingo, Okla. In 1941, she got a little sister, Mary Ruth.
Genger began playing piano at age four and attended Tishomingo public schools where she lettered in band, playing the flute, and was drum major. She always said it was love at first sight when she saw the ticket taker at the movie theater, Charles Gilliam. He was a freshman at Murray State, where she studied music. They married on June 22, 1952 and remained married until Charles’ death 42 years later. Through the course of their marriage, they lived in Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico and Arizona, and had at least one child born in each.
Genger was a very young mother and threw herself into it with every ounce of her being. She learned to cook, to sew, to teach, to organize, and to entertain. As a Christian, she dedicated her life to her family, and that included church. She taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday School, while Charles was frequently the song leader in worship services. In 1963, the family moved to Winslow, Ariz. where she promptly volunteered to be “room mother” for each class in which she had a child. She planned their holiday parties, baked their treats, and entertained the children. She never lost her love for playing dress up, and she delighted in Halloween costumes, designing and sewing them herself.
She belonged to Beta Sigma Phi, was an award-winning Avon lady and never saw a challenge she wouldn’t face: she was the first person we knew to solve Rubik’s Cube. Genger was an amazing cook and baker. She could make dinner and dessert for a party of 12 seemingly appear out of nowhere, for next to nothing, and leave guests thoroughly impressed. Her bread, cinnamon rolls, and chocolate pie were legendary. Neighborhood kids wrangled invitations.
She belonged to the Rebekahs for many years and was a Theta Rho Girls’ Club advisor, chaperoning dances on weekends. When her oldest children were in high school, she was taking college classes in music composition and accounting. In the early 70s, Genger opened a restaurant in Winslow, Ariz., appropriately named “Gen’s”, but gave it up as grandchildren began to arrive. By the 90s, Charles and Genger were back in Tishomingo, retired and teaching Sunday School with only one child left at home.
After Charles passed away in 1994, Genger continued raising Paul and then foster children, and worked as a teacher’s aide in Tishomingo schools. In 2002, she married Charles Mitchell, who passed away in 2004. In 2013 Genger moved to Fort Worth, Texas and then in 2018 to Dayton, Ohio where she was eagerly awaiting the birth of yet another grandchild. She always knew that her purpose in life was to have and raise children. Nothing made her happier than a baby, and she always said there was no more important job in the world than raising the next generation to be intelligent, decent people and parents.
Genger was preceded in death by her parents Bonnie and Denver, step-mother Maureen, husband Charles Edward Gilliam, two great-grandsons, and husband Charles Mitchell.
Genger is survived by her sister, Mary Ruth Hughes, her seven children: Carol (Steve) Baker, Peggy (Vern) Robertson, Casey (Carol) Gilliam, Patty (John) Franks, Tommie Gilliam, Denver (Donna) Gilliam, and Paul (Katy) Gilliam, stepson Bob Bradford, and her 14 grandchildren: Virginia Baker-Bradley, Daniel Mills, Matthew Gilliam-Baker, Kristen Shalhoub, David Robertson, Courtney Barton, Ashley Seigel, Mark Blackburn, Samone Flieger, J. W. Betts, Charleigh Betts, Bonnie Betts, Amber Jo Elrod, Brian Gilliam, with Emory Mae Gilliam eagerly anticipated in October, 37 great grandchildren (with more on the way) and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm at Watts Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma.
Services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 19, 2021, at Watts Memorial Chapel in Madill, Okla. John Hazel will officiate the service.Interment will be at the Troy Cemetery in Troy, Okla. Services will be under the direction of Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.