Louise Guill

nbspLouise B. Guill, 84, of Kerrville, Texas went to be with the Lord on September 11, 2008.nbspLouise was born June 12, 1924 in the East Texas town of Call Junction, in the piney woods of the Big Thicket, to parents, Jesse and Alma Benson. nbspShe grew up in the nearby lumber mill town of Call, where she cared for her disabled mother and a younger brother who was born with numerous health problems.nbspShe enjoyed playing piano and singing with younger siblings Jesse, Jr., Helen, and Dan.nbspA precocious child, she obtained special permission to start first grade at the age of 5, and throughout her schooling did well, taking Latin, Spanish, and as much math and science as was available, and graduated one of the top in her class.nbspWhile growing up she also worked in the saw mill, and was selected for special training that served as a prototype for FDRrsquos Civilian Conservation Corps.nbspShe was in church every time the doors were open, singing and playing piano in the community church which had Baptist and Methodist services on alternate Sundays.nbspNormally quite shy, she surprised everyone when she left her friends and family and all that she had known in the piney woods to attend nursing school at the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Houston, Texas where she continued her Godgiven nurturing skills, especially enjoying obstetrics, pediatrics, and geriatrics, and even trained as a WWII trauma nurse. nbspShe married Russell Guill, MD, a medical student at Baylor School of Medicine, on January 1, 1947 in Pasadena, Texas.nbspAfter they both graduated from professional school, they moved to San Antonio where they each received additional training at Santa Rosa Hospital.nbspThey lived at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines with children Alice and Russell, Jr. while Dr. Guill served as a captain in the Air Force.nbspIn the early 1950s they moved to Kerrville, where Dr. Guill opened a pediatrics and allergy practice and Louise worked as his office nurse.nbspAs a couple, they helped inspire a growing awareness of the need to provide quality health care for all, regardless of race or ability to pay, for over a decade before civil rights advocacy swept the nation.nbspWhen Steve and Mary Lou were born, Louise stayed home to care for them and their older siblings, and remained active in various church activities and volunteer nursing programs for the community and schools.nbspnbspWhile her children were young, Louise cared for her husband at home for the last years of his life while he fought cancer.nbspOnce her children were grown, she worked as charge nurse and Director of Nurses at Hilltop Village, a local nursing home.nbspWhen her father needed to be admitted to a nursing home in Beaumont, she moved there and worked as Director of Nurses at Glad Days Nursing Home so that she could care for her father before and after work. nbspNursing was such a calling to Louise that she was volunteer nurse for the Salvation Army, giving immunizations and medications to school children, worked with a local senior agency as a visiting nurse for shutins, was one of the first MealsndashonWheels volunteers, and went on many medical mission trips to Mexico.nbspnbspShe was also a member of Kerrvillersquos Community Chorus and enjoyed singing trips to Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, and the Holy Land. nbspShe enjoyed playing church organ and piano at Kerrvillersquos First Baptist Church, Grace Bible Chapel, and Trinity Church of Center Point.nbspShe also enjoyed teaching vacation Bible school and Sunday school, and being a school mentor for kindergarteners. nbspMost recently she has enjoyed being a member of the Take 5 group at the Dietert Senior Center.nbspnbspLouise was a very active and inspiring lady whose faith and spirit of nurturing dominated. She was positive and inspiring, and as long as she was able filled her days with singing, laughing, and praying for others.nbspShe loved to end each day holding hands with those around her, spending a few moments in thanksgiving and supplication, and saying the Lordrsquos Prayer. nbspThose who stayed overnight to care for her in her last weeks say she even prayed in her sleep.nbspnbspShe loved people, always looking beyond herself to encourage others. nbspIn later years she particularly enjoyed the company of grandchildren Jason and Lisa Guill, Emily and William Etchison, and greatgrandchildren Elizabeth and Elohra Guill, all of whom helped to care for her.nbspShe never went to sleep before making sure those she loved most were safe, secure, and cared for at the close of the day.nbspShe enjoyed walking, being outdoors, simple foods, teaching, and learning, but otherrsquos needs always came first. She persevered through all, even surviving breast cancer and a broken hip late in life, and waging a vigorous battle against Parkinsonrsquos Disease, Alzheimerrsquos Disease, asthma, arthritis and other painful spinal problems, and pneumonia. Throughout her life and especially during her last several years, she lived a phrase she made up, Nurses never retire, and they never give up.nbspShe is preceded in death by her husband, Russell Guill, MD daughter, Alice Guill Wendel sister, Helen Rogers brother, George Weldon Benson and her parents.nbspShe is survived by her daughter, Mary Lou Etchison and husband Michael of Kerrville two sons, Russell E. Guill, Jr., and Steve Guill and wife Cindy of Center Point two brothers, Jesse Benson of Port Arthur and Dan Benson and wife Elsie of Beamont eleven grandchildren, Chris and Gina Wendel, Cathy Harvey, Michael, Jason, Russell W., Christopher, and Ashley Guill, Corey Simon, and William and Emily Etchison twelve greatgrandchildren, and numerous other relatives.nbspGraveside services will be held Tuesday, 2:00 PM September 16, 2008 at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Memorial services will be held 2:00 PM Sunday, September 21, 2008 at Trinity Church of Center Point with Pastors Don Davis and Robert Lockaby officiating. ation will be held 57 PM Monday, Septenber 15, 2008 at Kerrville Funeral Home.nbspMemorials may be made to the Parkinsonrsquos foundation.nbsp

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