Obituary for Jonell Edine "Nellie" Gillis (Popp)
With profound sadness we announce the passing of the Matriarch of our family Jonell Edine Gillis, our loving and devoted mother, Nana, and friend to all whose lives she touched, on January 30, 2023. She was 73 years old and was the devoted companion to her love the late Duane S. Martinez.
Born in California to the late Darlene Beverly (Long) Spence and Richard Spence. She was later adopted by Melvin G. Popp who married Darlene in 1950. She was strong and determined to be a business owner in Colorado Springs, CO. She was self-employed and grew her ever changing businesses in Medical Billing, being the proud owner of RSVP Inc. and partnered with Dr. Tom K. Pence for many years before she found her dream as the owner of her own family-owned Corporation that remained R.S.V. P. Inc. The Walkabout Pub and Grill in Colorado Springs, CO., which partnered with Duane S. Martinez. She will miss her colleagues Dr. Kim S. Hor, and James Hor. She was honored to have these individuals help build her businesses’, they are family.
Jonell was a dedicated mother and Nana first and foremost. She treasured her children and grandchildren, Family, and friends and she embraced every moment with them. She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh. She made friends everywhere she went. She loved music, dancing and singing, “she had the voice of a songbird,” stated her best friend, Laurie. Jonell was an amazing cook, baker, and a Blue-Ribbon winner at the Colorado State Fair many times. She loved crafting, beading, Facebook and Ancestry.com, and of course her friends, drinks and a good band.
If you knew Jonell, she was a loyal friend, a forever friend. Fierce and proud.
She is the loving & devoted mother of Tawnya L. Gillis-Scott, Troy L. Gillis, and the late Terra Lynn Gillis from her first marriage to Aaron Gillis Jr of Annapolis, MD, adored Nana of Devin M. Scott, Daunte M. Scott, and Aaron J. Gillis-Flowers; dear sister of Jack Popp and Janine Clark and the late Judy Hartig, and Jerry Popp. She was the loyal and devoted best friend of Laurie and William Mulnix, Gwendolyn Parence, and too many to list by name. Her precious Cat “Pickles Gillis” will miss her infamous sassiness and love. Pickles was Jonell’s peace of mind. She is in heaven yelling “Pickles get down”, while texting Daunte, and sending Aaron on errands. Jonell continued to stay devoted to her love of billing.
She instilled strong values in her children and grandchildren, she will forever be our Momma. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts and minds. Jonell’s legacy will forever continue with her grandsons. Jonell is in heaven with Terra, Duane, loving family, and friends having a celebration.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date in Colorado Springs with her family and her many friends.
Messages of condolences and memories to share may be made to www.zellmanfuneralhome.com
Born in California to the late Darlene Beverly (Long) Spence and Richard Spence. She was later adopted by Melvin G. Popp who married Darlene in 1950. She was strong and determined to be a business owner in Colorado Springs, CO. She was self-employed and grew her ever changing businesses in Medical Billing, being the proud owner of RSVP Inc. and partnered with Dr. Tom K. Pence for many years before she found her dream as the owner of her own family-owned Corporation that remained R.S.V. P. Inc. The Walkabout Pub and Grill in Colorado Springs, CO., which partnered with Duane S. Martinez. She will miss her colleagues Dr. Kim S. Hor, and James Hor. She was honored to have these individuals help build her businesses’, they are family.
Jonell was a dedicated mother and Nana first and foremost. She treasured her children and grandchildren, Family, and friends and she embraced every moment with them. She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh. She made friends everywhere she went. She loved music, dancing and singing, “she had the voice of a songbird,” stated her best friend, Laurie. Jonell was an amazing cook, baker, and a Blue-Ribbon winner at the Colorado State Fair many times. She loved crafting, beading, Facebook and Ancestry.com, and of course her friends, drinks and a good band.
If you knew Jonell, she was a loyal friend, a forever friend. Fierce and proud.
She is the loving & devoted mother of Tawnya L. Gillis-Scott, Troy L. Gillis, and the late Terra Lynn Gillis from her first marriage to Aaron Gillis Jr of Annapolis, MD, adored Nana of Devin M. Scott, Daunte M. Scott, and Aaron J. Gillis-Flowers; dear sister of Jack Popp and Janine Clark and the late Judy Hartig, and Jerry Popp. She was the loyal and devoted best friend of Laurie and William Mulnix, Gwendolyn Parence, and too many to list by name. Her precious Cat “Pickles Gillis” will miss her infamous sassiness and love. Pickles was Jonell’s peace of mind. She is in heaven yelling “Pickles get down”, while texting Daunte, and sending Aaron on errands. Jonell continued to stay devoted to her love of billing.
She instilled strong values in her children and grandchildren, she will forever be our Momma. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts and minds. Jonell’s legacy will forever continue with her grandsons. Jonell is in heaven with Terra, Duane, loving family, and friends having a celebration.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date in Colorado Springs with her family and her many friends.
Messages of condolences and memories to share may be made to www.zellmanfuneralhome.com