Espanola Mid-North Monitor - Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Obituary for Donald Nelson Gillis GILLIS, Donald Nelson - (born June 20, 1941). It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Nelson - peacefully in his sleep on Saturday April 26th, 2008. Having battled diabetes and heart disease for more than 20 years, we were blessed to have him for as long as we did. Always an advocate for the underdog, Nelson was a staunch supporter of people in need of a voice. His dogged determination was his best asset to his supporters and his worst attribute to his detractors. From his years as Union Steward at EB Eddy/Domtar in Nairn to his most recent position as Chairman of the Jubilee Club for the seniors in his building, "Mr. Big" (as he once called himself) was a little man with a big voice. He worked tirelessly to the end with the people around him making sure they got what they deserved. Nelson (The Big Don) was once married to Joan and had two children - Christopher and Stacey. Christopher married Shelly and resides in Espanola, Stacey with Dennis in Barrie. Perhaps Nelson's greatest achievement was becoming a Poppa to both Cadence and Keegan. His role as Poppa was one that he took very seriously - if ever he was serious - and he showered all the love and affection he had on them. In the summer of 2007, he took Cadie on a two-week trip to Cape Breton so he could share his last trip "home" with her. After he left his job at Domtar in the 90's, Nelson found a new passion in the study of genealogy. A labour of love, he spent thousand of hours researching his family's history and his ancestors. This, inevitably brought him back to Cape Breton -where he visited as often as possible to spend time with his Aunts and Uncles, cousins and great-cousins - loving a good old fashioned ceilidh and the Celtic Colours in the fall. His favourite memories are of these trips and his people there. Nelson has gone to the great beyond to join his parents Mary and William and his nephew Jason (with whom, no doubt, he'll be talking baseball to already - go Detroit!) Survived by his sisters Margaret Anne, Helen and Bonnie (husband Gilles) and brother Frank (wife Dot), and their children Andy, Kari, Joie, Preston, Cathie, Corrie, Reeves and Travis. Funeral arrangements have been made with BOURCIER FUNERAL HOME in Espanola. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 1st at 2- 4pm and 7-9pm and the funeral services will be held at The Espanola United Church on Friday, May 2nd at 10am (light lunch to follow). In lieu of flowers, he asked that you please make a donation to The Canadian Diabetes Association to further research. His off-beat sense of humour, and his "you bet your bippy" sayings will be what we think about when we remember him. Rest peacefully old timing guy, we've got it covered for you

Where is Espanola? Does anyone know his ancestry? Of the Cape Breton Gillis all that I have seen are RC. My family is one of the few Protestant, Presbyterian., lines. The immigrants from Scotland, Harris, were Kenneth Gillis, his wife Sarah Ferguson and son Alexander. They settled in Lingan. bob gillis Carol MacLean wrote: > Espanola Mid-North Monitor - Wednesday, April 30, 2008 > > Obituary for Donald Nelson Gillis