Lillie Marchant

Lillie Belle Marchant, 94, died Tuesday, August 14, 2012. She was born to Wallace and Ora Gattis, May 10, 1918, in Ratcliff, Arkansas. Lillie married William Otis Friar in 1934. They lived in Paris, Arkansas on a dairy farm until his death in 1955. They received many awards for their superior milk quality by the Dairy Association and the Farm Bureau. Lillie later moved to Port Hueneme, California. She married Jay (J.W.) Marchant in 1958. They lived in Port Hueneme and Ojai, California. After the death of J.W., she relocated to Colorado to be near her son and family. Lillie was a dental assistant and later became an assistant librarian. She retired in 1980. She not only touched the lives of many students but all that knew her. Lillie was an active member of the Ojai Valley Baptist Church. Her life was a living testimony to her faith and all that came in contact with her knew she was a Christian. She is survived by her sister - Bulah Tackett, Camarillo CA; her children James and Dianna Friar, Meridian, ID; Thomas and Sue Friar of Wellington, CO; Anita and Fred Diehl of Camarillo, CA; Deronda and Jerry Linder of Newbury Park, CA and Jay and Kathy Marchant, Oxnard, CA. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren; and 9 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Otis Friar and J. W. Marchant; grandson James Michael Friar, Jr.; brothers Thurman Gattis, W.T. Gattis, Noble Gattis, Calvin Gattis and Lee Earl Gattis. A memorial service will be held August 18, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Wellington United Methodist Fellowship, 8251 Wellington Blvd, Wellington, Colorado. Another service will be held Thursday August 23, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Joseph P. Reardon Burial Funeral Home, Ventura, California with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Thursday. Burial will be held in Oxnard, California at Ivy Lawn Cemetery. Her family would sincerely like to thank Chris at Goes Funeral Care, Fort Collins, CO for his compassionate and dedicated assistance; the staff at Columbine West Health Facility and Pathways Hospice, Fort Collins, CO for their loving care for Lillie. They became her and our extended family.