Gladys “Beth” Elizabeth Hicks McGillis, 90, passed away Jan. 24, 2014, in San Jose, California. She was born May 30,1923 in River Hebert, Nova Scotia, the eldest daughter of Milton (McKees Mills, NB) and Christina (Murphy) Hicks (Halifax, NS). She is a niece of the late Laura (Murphy) and George DeWitt of River Hebert. She graduated from Advocate Harbour, NS, High School in 1941 in a class of 3 students. She served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II from 1943 to 1945. She was a fabric worker on airplanes at Mont-Joli Air Base, Quebec, and later became a parachute packer at Abbottsford Air Base in British Colombia. After the war ended, she had the adventure of a lifetime when she hitch-hiked (in uniform) across the U.S. to New York City, with another member of the Canadian Air Force. Beth then moved to Toronto, Canada and trained to be a secretary prior to leaving the RCAF. In 1950 she married the late James McGillis (Cornwall, ON), in Toronto. In 1952 they moved to Buffalo, NY and then Detroit, MI. In 1961 they settled near Los Angeles, California.
She is survived by her devoted children Jack McGillis (Susan) of Oakland, Calif., and Karen Moskaluk (Raymond) of San Jose, Calif. and grandchildren, Ryan and Alexandra Moskaluk also of San Jose, Ellen Venner-Hiltz (Greg) of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and Megan Venner-Beeston (Scott) of Kanata, Ontario, and six great-grandchildren, Carter, Madeline, Griffin and Broden Hiltz and Isaac and Eric Beeston.
She is also survived by her sister Willie Hicks of Calgary, Alberta. Beth was preceded in death by her eldest daughter, Joanne Venner of Truro, Nova Scotia.
Her love of animals, card playing, knitting and paper crafting will be missed by all who knew her.
At her request her ashes will be scattered in a private ceremony.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Humane Society or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.