Sharon Gilley

Sharon Gilley, 62, of Toledo passed from this world peacefully in her sleep during the early morning of March 11. Left behind to celebrate her life are her husband of thirty seven years, and partner of nearly a half century, Jerry D. Gilley, and her son, Zachary J. Gilley. She is also survived by son Steve Hull, and a number of neices, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Also mourning her loss are close friends and condfidants Nicole May, and Charles Holmes, of Toledo. She is preceded in death by her son Scott Hull, adopted parents Della and Wallace Moody, brothers Elmer and Gary Haywood, and birth parents Milton and Sally Haywood. In her younger years, she was a nurse, having been one of the youngest candidates ever awarded a LPN by the state of New York, at the age of sixteen. She worked in the New York State health care system in the early seventies, before returning to Ohio to resume her nursing career.” No longer wishing to work in a medical facility, she balanced a second career as a private home health care provider in addition to being a tireless homemmaker. She retired from health care in the late nineties. She continued to be a homemaker until she passed, doting on her family and the pets she so dearly loved. No matter what side of town she lived on, many neighborhood children ended up with an extra supper, or advice as they grew up, or an ear to listen to their now-adult problems. There were many children who grew to just call her “mama”. Her main hobbies were gardening, taking great pleasure in caring for things from seed to plant, taking great care in their growth, and seeing it return year after year. The other was advocating for the rights of sheltered and rescued pets, herself having rescued a small number of dogs from the Toledo Animal Shelter Assocition. She also donated to several groups such as the National Humane Society and the North Shore Animal League. Children receiving her adequate health care was also a concern, as she had been an annual donor to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. Her wishes was that there would be no funeral or memorial service. If anyone wishes to have their own private ceremony, please conduct it as informally as possible with respect and dignity towards her, and know that she would be humbled at anything meant to honor her. She felt such activities were to comfort the living. Please do not send gifts or flowers. Instead please make an donation in her name to the Toledo Aninmal Shelter Association, or St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.