Obituary of Chum Gillard

Gordon Leslie Gillard Glace Bay Our Father, Gordon 'Chum' Gillard passed away suddenly on Monday, April 5, 2021 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, he was 77. In his younger years, Dad enjoyed playing sports, baseball, hockey, golf and belonged to bowling and dart leagues. He was the president and treasurer of The North Street Community Recreation Centre (The Club). He spent lots of time with many family and friends at The Club. He loved music, the old country music, Whalen Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merl Haggard and his favorite, Mickey Gilley, just to name a few. He loved dancing, loved a good family gathering, a little nip of rum, once in a while, and whistling; his whistling was musical. Dad enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips with good friend, Kevin (Amelia) Simmons, and many suppers with Frankie and Heidi Simmons. He also loved cooking and feeding his family; he could never cook a small batch of anything. He cooked a big pot of turkey soup for us on the day he died, he was always looking after us! Dad’s pride and joy, second only to his daughters, his grandchildren. Watching them grow up, taking care of them, taking them to and from school, taking them to hockey, teaching them to drive and of course, feeding them. He was the center of their world. He is survived by his daughters, Catherine Ann Gillard (Mike Belcourt); Darlene Marie Gillard (Sheldon Whitty); Tracy Lynn Gillard-White (Adam White); and Christine Flood. Four sisters, Patricia (Auntie Pats) Winstanley, Marlyn (Donald) Dellaire, Shirley Morrison, and Joyce LeBlanc. Dad is survived by eight grandchildren, Deanna (Brennan) Burrows, Justin Brann, Bradley Fitzgerald, Tyler Cathcart, Dana (Ashley) Cathcart, Rylie White, Khoner White, and Haley Flood. Three great grandchildren, Brielle, Brett, and Luke, and many, many nieces and nephews. All whom he loved dearly, and he knew, they all love their Uncle Chum beyond measure. Dad was predeceased by two sisters, Helen Gillard and Bell Simmons; brother, Willie Gillard; brothers-in-law, Allie Simmons, Roy Winstanley, Sylvester 'Googie' LeBlanc, and Jimmy Morrison, and sister-in-law, Mary-Frances Gillard. Our Father touched so many lives on his journey through life. He will be greatly missed by all. There are not enough words to express how much he meant to so many. We will always hear your early morning whistling and butter knife tapping while making toast for breakfast – rest easy Dad, we love you so much. In lieu in flowers, donations may be made to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation.