Obituary of Lillian Minerva Gehman

Lillian Gehman Lillian Gehman was born May 15, 1916, in Rutland South Dakota. She grew up on a farm with her parents John & Emma Olson and six brothers and sisters, graduating from Rutland High School in 1933. Her brother Chet and sister Vi moved to Camas and in 1936 Lil purchased a round trip train ticket to come out and visit. She liked the area so much that the return ticket was never used. Lil met Carl Gehman in 1938 and against the advise of her brother Chet who counseled her that Carl was too wild to ever settle down she married Carl in 1939. Lil and Carl remained deeply in love throughout their wonderful 67 year marriage. Carl passed away December 22, 2006. Lil worked in the paper mill for a while but when Carl and Lil?s sister Vi bought the Imperial Dry Cleaners she started helping out there where her skill as an excellent seamstress could be put to good use. When Carl bought the Sporting goods store in 1957 Lil went to work alongside him. She loved the job because she loved people, chatting and joking all day with the customers was a perfect fit for her. Lil often jokingly referred to the male customers as her boyfriends. Lil also loved fishing, bowling, hiking, clam digging and just about any other activity were she was around people. Lil and Carl raised their three children Gay, Mardell & Lynn in a large house with a big yard in Washougal. The house was always alive with activity, friends and relatives visiting from all over the country, the children and their friends playing, chickens and rabbits in back yarn pens and guinea pigs being raised in the basement. Of course the family always had a parakeet and a dog too. Lil and Carl loved a party and hardly a weekend went by without a big gathering of some sort at their home. Lil passed away April 27, 2007 after a long battle against Alzheimer?s Disease. She is survived by children Gay Gehman, Mardell Peet and Lynn Gehman; niece Jacquie Duncan; 8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 7 great great grandchildren. Lil will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Memorial services for Lillian Gehman will be Saturday May 5th at 1 PM at Straub?s Funeral Home in Camas, Washington followed by an informal reception. The family suggests. that remembrances in Lillian?s name be sent to the Alzheimer?s Association, P.O. Box 5064, Vancouver, WA 98668. To send condolences to the Gehman?s please sign the online guest book at www.straubsfuneralhom.com. Straub?s Funeral Home and Columbia River Cremation in Camas is in charge of arrangements.