May 11, 1945 – May 26, 2026
Dolores Mae Gilliland, 81, Paola, Kansas passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2025 at Olathe Hospice House, Olathe, Kansas. Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 29, 2026 at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner, Kansas. Graveside service 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Hillsdale Cemetery, Hillsdale, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be given to Olathe Health Charitable Foundation for Olathe Hospice House. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com
Dolores was born in Kansas City, Missouri on May 11, 1945 to Adolph Charles and Norine M. (Carpenter) Soetaert. She grew up in Gardner and graduated in 1963 from Gardner High School. Dolores attended Stormont Vail Nursing School to become a registered nurse. On January 18, 1964 in Gardner, Dolores married Gary Lee Gilliland. They moved to Hillsdale in 1964 and later to rural Paola in 2003. She worked as an RN for Miami County Hospital and was Director of Nurses at Shawnee Gardens and Lifecare. After retirement Dolores worked for State of Kansas Department of Aging and Disability. Dolores was very talented with egg art, creating Faberge eggs and lattice work. She enjoyed traveling and being with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Dolores is preceded in death by her parents; husband Gary; son Larry Gilliland and siblings: Walter Soetaert, Dorothy Houston, Helen Freeman and Lois Soetaert. She is survived by her sons Jerry Lee (Dawn) Gilliland, Paola, Kansas and Terry Lee (Dee) Gilliland, Paola, Kansas; brother Richard Soetaert, Edgerton, Kansas; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and close friends.
Obituary published by Bruce Funeral Home.
