Irene Denton Gill passed away peacefully at home in Perdido Key, Florida on May 28, 2024. She was lovingly surrounded by her family throughout her final weeks.
Irene was born in Tiawah, Oklahoma on February 23, 1931, daughter of late Lukas Denton and Annie Maude Lee Denton. She graduated from Claremore High School in 1948 and went on to attend the University of Tulsa graduating in 1953 with a degree in Education. While teaching school in Cherryvale, Kansas, she met her future husband who was on staff at Kansas State Veterinary School of Medicine.
Irene wed Howard (Gene) on June 27, 1954, at the Christian Church in Cherryvale, Kansas. His career led them to Wichita, Kansas, Carmel, Indiana, Michigan State University, Castleton Farms in Lexington, KY, Hermitage Farm Louisville, KY, finally landing in New York’s Hudson Valley where together they built Pine Bush Equine. Irene was an integral part of the veterinary and harness horse business and has always been the solid loving rock of our family.
She had the blessing of her Christian faith in Jesus Christ and served as a Sunday School teacher sharing John 3:16 at the conclusion of each of her classes: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Irene is survived by her son Stanley Gill(Susan), daughters Anne Syphard(Jack) and Jane Watt(Stuart), 6 grandchildren: Natalie Brown(Ted), Andrew Quintana, Luke Gill(Danielle), Samuel Gill, Claire Reutter, Will Reutter; and 3 great-grandchildren, Garrett Castle, and Owen and Colin Brown, and foster son Richard Memmelaar.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Howard Gill, her brother Ray, and her sisters Mary, Hazel, Clara, Georgie, Sally, Pauline, and Betty.
In lieu of flowers as an expression of your sympathy a donation can be made to one of the following charities that were near and dear to Irene’s heart: her local church The Gathering Fellowship, 33925 US-98 Lilian, AL 36549; Impact100 SRQ or Samaritan’s Purse.