Gloria June Sandley (Lima) McKellar, age 92, of Greenwood, WI, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 17, 2023, at Three Oaks Health Services in Marshfield, WI, with a beloved granddaughter by her side.

Celebration of life ceremonies will be held at Zion Lutheran Church MO Synod in Granton, WI, this Thursday, November 30, 1:00pm with Pastor Dan Schoessow officiating.

Gloria was born June 13, 1931, on her mother's shared birthday, in Cadott, WI, to Frank and Millie (DeVoe) Sandley. She was one of eight children and the last surviving. She attended Chap Creek School just north of Cadott, WI, where she met and later married in Colby, WI, on her father's birthday, March 11, 1950, her childhood sweetheart, John "Jack" Leroy Lima.

From the beginning, Gloria was helping wherever she was needed, spending her early years diligently doing daily chores on the family farm. As a small child, Gloria stepped up when called to help take care of her eldest sister Charlotte's young family, as she fell ill with, and later passed from, a brain tumor.

Gloria and Jack happily welcomed two daughters into their lives, Charlotte Gloria and Shannon Jan, while still living in WI, and later a son, John Brent, after moving to Seattle, WA, where Jack's parents and sister had earlier moved. Prior to moving to WA, she worked as a nursing assistant in Marshfield, WI, and then continued the same in Seattle, WA, working evenings and fostering many young children there. In 1973, Gloria and Jack moved to Idaho Falls, ID, using the inheritance she received from her parents to purchase their first home together. Sadly, Jack passed four short years later in 1977, at the too young age of 45, leaving Gloria to raise their young son alone. Harnessing an innate positive outlook and can-do attitude, Gloria went on to obtain an Associate of Applied Science in Practical Nursing in 1979, and also became a Licensed Practical Nurse while residing in Idaho Falls, ID, eagerly offering her time and attention to children and grandchildren.

After retirement, Gloria enjoyed spending her free time at the local senior's center, often volunteering and always making new friends, where she met and married her best friend in life, Glen Mack McKellar, who took her travelling by RV to Arizona every winter for several years and, according to her, blessed her with some of the happiest days of her life. Some of her many interests included gardening, ornament making, oil painting (signed Glory Bee), wood burning, crocheting, baking (burning), and being the grandest, most entertaining and encouraging mentor and friend that any child might hope to have in this lifetime.

In a book of life memories, she shared the following inspiration, "I like my stubborn, matter-of-fact outlook. I can be anything or do anything I want to my way as good as anyone. I hope this positive attitude rubs off on my grandkids and greats. There is no such thing as can't. If they stumble, I pray they get up and try again."

She is fondly remembered by her grandchildren, whom she babysat as often as she could, as the "only adult who could play games as long as we wanted to," and "probably the whole reason we like reading is because she would do it so much when we were there."

And regarding family, she wrote the following: "They are #1. They are my life and reason for living. I have been lucky enough to share in their lives also. I don't tell them how to live – they are intelligent and do what is naturally important for their families. It will all work out."

Gloria is survived by her 3 children: Charlotte Bohney of Granton, WI; Shannon (Gene) Simpson of Fortine, MT; and John Lima of Salmon, ID. She is further survived by 6 grandchildren: David Bohney of Granton, WI; Collise Fisher of Frederick, MD; Gloria Bingham of VA; Emillie and Travis Simpson of Fortine, MT; Adrian Lima of Salmon, ID; and 3 great grandchildren, as well as many nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, two sisters, and five brothers.

Before passing, she shared this message for her 3 children: "I have enjoyed the life we have lived and the love we shared."

From all of us to dear Grandma Gloria: thank you for being imperfectly inspirational, kind, loving, and thoughtful throughout; please forgive us for disappointing or hurting you while we made our own mistakes; the gift of your presence in this time will be cherished for the rest of our lives; we love you more than these words might convey; rest in peace.