NEWPORT – Sheila McDonald Gilman, 67, beloved wife of Goodwin O. “Goody” Gilman of Newport, died peacefully Friday, March 5, 2004, after fighting a brief, but courageous battle with leukemia. She was born Oct. 26, 1936, at Salem, Mass., the daughter of Milton and Marian McDonald. She grew up in Marblehead, Mass., and graduated from high school there in 1954. She attended Colby College, graduated from Garland Junior College in Boston, and received a degree in pre-school education from Tufts University in 1960. She married Goody Gilman June 19, 1960, and has resided in Newport since that date. Sheila taught school in Corinna from 1960- 1962, and then “retired” to raise three loving children. She became very active in the Newport community, especially working with the Newport Women’s Club, the Library Association and the United Methodist Church. She was also a member of Chapter B.P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was a Literacy Volunteer for many years. Always wearing a smile, it can be honestly stated that Sheila never met a person she did not sincerely love. She will also be remembered as a caring First Lady of Anah Shrine in Bangor, where Goody served as Potentate in 1995. Sheila is survived by her husband of nearly 44 years; a daughter, Gayle of Santa Monica, Calif.; a son, Andrew of Cape Elizabeth; and a son, Matthew of New Canaan, Conn. She is also survived by a sister, Alice Waldron of Reading, Mass.; a brother, William McDonald of Martinville, Va.; a brother, Richard McDonald of Whitehouse Station, N.J.; and two special cousins, Lynne Hayes of Swampscott, Mass., and Ruth Barrett of Bethel. Her true love was her seven grandchildren who survive her, Ella and Dylan Swimmer of Santa Monica, Calif., Matthew, Luke, and Katie Gilman of Cape Elizabeth, and Sam and James Gilman of New Canaan, Conn. To those beloved grandchildren, Sheila will always be remembered as “Mimi.” Friends may call 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 8, 2004, at the Crosby & Neal Funeral Home, 117 Main St., Newport. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at the Peoples United Methodist Church, Newport, with the Rev. George Darling officiating. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations in her memory to the Peoples United Methodist Church, care of George Darling, P.O. Box 182, Newport, ME 04953 or to the Newport Library/Historical Society Building Fund, care of Gwen Emery, P. O. Box 274, Newport, ME 04953.
SHEILA MCDONALD GILMAN
