Obituaries 9-3-15

Alexander Sorrels Gillis
Al died on Aug. 23, 2015 with his family by his bedside. He was 95 years old. He is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Ann, daughter Shirley Murray, granddaughter Cara Murray, son-in-law Gary Murray, two nephews: Michael and Paul Crouch, their families and many other relatives.
Al was born in Colorado City, Texas on Nov. 12, 1919, the son of Charles A. and Natha Sorrels Gillis, who had a cotton farm. Al attended Dunn, Texas through eighth grade. When Al’s father died when Al was 12, the family moved to Barstow, Texas where sister Lois was working.
Al worked hard during the Depression, pitching hay at a dollar a day and driving truck. In Dec. 1939 he joined the U.S. Navy for a six-year enlistment and was stationed on the U.S.S. Detroit, a light cruiser, until Aug. 1941, then transferred to a just commissioned ship, the U.S.S. Fulton, a submarine tender built at Mare Island.
He was a motor machinist in one of the ship’s engine rooms, and in a few years was made an instructor on diesel engines and spent time in San Diego instructing sailors on these engines. Later he was sent to Saipan to repair boat diesel engines, and it was there he completed his enlistment, which coincided closely with the end of World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1945 after spending most of his Navy years at sea in the Pacific area.
In Sept. 1941 before World War II, he met Anna Maria Amaroli at a dance in San Francisco. They were engaged for several years and married on Dec. 30, 1945 in Berkeley. Ann had taken an evening sewing class and was ready and waiting with a navy blue outfit she had made in Berkeley, where she lived and worked. The mayor of Berkeley, who was also a minister, Lawrence Cross, performed the ceremony.
A recession five years after their wedding meant Al could not find work in the Bay Area, so Ann resigned from her job with the State of California and they moved back to her parent’s farm on Dutcher Creek Road. Ann’s mother was going to be alone, with son Ralph married and son George going to the University of California, and she suggested the couple come to live near her.
Al found work on the green chain at the Rounds Lumber Mill in Asti and the inexperienced couple started building their little cottage, armed with a book titled, “How To Build Your Dream Home for $3,500.” It was before building codes. The couple chose a spot 10 power poles away from the end of the electric line, so it was a bit harder, sawing each board by hand and without the use of power tools, but at the end of 10 months, the little cozy cottage was ready and PG&E put in 10 power poles and brought electricity to the home.
In five years, daughter Shirley was born. In 1957, Al became an agent for Farmers Insurance Group and with his wife, operated an office in Cloverdale. After their marriage, Gary Murray became an agent for the same company and with Shirley, joined the office. This continued into the early 1980s when Al retired.
During his insurance years, Al was an unpaid, elected director of the Sonoma County Grange Credit Union for 42 years. He also was a volunteer fireman for Cloverdale for 21 years, rising to the rank of captain. Al and Ann belonged to many Cloverdale organizations. When Al retired from the insurance business, he became the evening manager for Al Meador’s Foodland Supermarket on Cloverdale Blvd. until it sold.
Services will be held under the direction of the military cemetery at Dixon. Any donations in Al’s honor can be made to the Cloverdale Historical Society, P.O. Box 628, Cloverdale, CA 95425, the Cloverdale Senior Center, 311 N. Main Street, Cloverdale, CA 95425 or to a group of your choice. The family thanks all who have been so kind.
Gladys M. Matovich
Gladys died gently in her sleep at home on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. She lived all of her 86 years in Sonoma County, was a proud 1947 graduate of Analy High and sold real estate for many years in Santa Rosa before moving to Cloverdale in the 1970s. Her fierce determination allowed her to survive polio and continue a rich, full life for 65 more years.
She will be missed by her daughter Donna Baehr and her husband, Walt, her grandsons Gary Lancina and his wife, Karen; and Joe Lancina and also her three great grandchildren; Tim, Lydia and Nason Lancina.
A celebration to remember Gladys with love, laughter and hugs will be held Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Matovich ranch. Arrangements by Fred Young F.H. Cloverdale, 894-2540.