Clara Lou (Bacon) Gillett, of Rolla, MO, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the age of 84.
Clara was born on September 9, 1941, in Tulsa, OK, to the late Johnnie Allen Bacon and Clara (Calvert) Bacon. Following her graduation from Berryhill High School, she continued her education at Oklahoma State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. While attending OSU, Clara met Bill Gillett, the love of her life, marrying him on August 27, 1960, after a 2 month whirlwind romance. They shared 65 wonderful years together, building a beautiful, Christ-centered life.
Clara and Bill were blessed with three children; Danny, Kristie, and Laura. Clara’s career for many years was to corral and guide her three extremely active, creative and strong-willed children on 16 acres of land, while maintaining a clean and organized home, which she regularly redecorated. She partnered with the local school in educating her children, even substitute teaching for several years. She was a passionate Bible class teacher, a girl scout leader, Bible camp cook, activities director, carpool driver, pony wrangler, gardener, seamstress, baker and cake decorator. She was a home-maker; a wonderful wife and mother. Her parenting style was, “Say YES as much as possible.”
Around 1980, Clara began working as an interior decorator. She never planned to have a business; she said it sort of happened by accident; just a series of God’s events that worked out for her and her family. Clara had a wonderful time helping people make their homes a more pleasant place to live. She accomplished this by owning and operating her interior design and furniture store, Designer Furniture. She and Bill had a great time going to market in Dallas and North Carolina together. She liked to say she was the only store in town with a PhD for a delivery man. She also enjoyed dressing up for work every day after years of living in child-proof active wear. Clara worked 10 years in the interior design and furniture business, selling the store when her third child graduated from college.
Retirement allowed for many adventures. Clara loved hitting the open road with Bill, nearly always heading west to the mountains where they enjoyed skiing, hiking, backpacking, staying at Deer Valley Ranch, and going to Frontier Days in Cheyenne, WY, taking some of their kids or grandkids along most of the time. If they headed east, it was usually to Busch Stadium where they would cheer on the Cardinals. They enjoyed hosting their annual “Cousins’ Camp” for their grandchildren, building strong bonds and precious memories.
Clara always enjoyed creating beauty. She loved working with flowers and plants in the yard, spending hours each week making sure they flourished. When the time came to divide plants, she loved sharing, allowing others to also enjoy the beauty.
Clara loved quilting, meticulously planning and designing each quilt to be a work of art. She crafted quilts for the birth and high school graduation of each of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Upon presentation, she would tell them to USE their quilt; saying, “wrap up in your quilt when you are sad, knowing that Grandma loves you.” Many of those quilts are thread bare but still filled with love and beauty. Even in her last few days, she had put a new baby quilt in the frames, and had begun the hand quilting process she used for each of her creations.
Clara said that since the time she and Bill married – it has always been a WE thing. They shared life together; loving God, family, and friends, and always supporting each other in their many adventures.
Clara leaves behind, to cherish her memory, her husband, Bill Gillett of the home, daughters Kristie McKinnon of Waynesville, and Laura (Kenny) Light of Rolla; daughter-in-law Leigh Gillett of Austin, TX; sister Norma (Jim) Clary of Tulsa, OK; brother Dennis (Michelle) Bacon of Lee’s Summit, MO; sister-in-law Sharon Bacon of Spring, TX; twelve grandchildren: Dan’s children, Kate (Michael) Seyman, John Gillett, Joseph Gillett and Elizabeth Gillett; Kristie’s children, Richie McKinnon, Melissa (Brian) Vernon, and Nickie McKinnon; Laura’s children, Jenna (Chris) Gove, Clarissa (John) Nisbett, Rebecca (Russell) Reynolds, Meredith (JL) Koenig, and Matthew Light; 16 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and friends.
In addition to her parents, Clara was preceded in death by son Daniel Gillett, brother Johnnie Dale Bacon and son-in-law Richard McKinnon.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” – 3 John 1:4.
A funeral service for Clara Lou Gillett will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, November 21, 2025, at the Rolla Church of Christ. Interment will follow in the Rolla City Cemetery. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the church.
Memorial contributions in Clara’s honor are suggested to Little Prairie Bible Camp.
On behalf of Clara’s family, we wish to express our appreciation for your acts of kindness, evidenced in thought and deed, and for your attendance at the service.
All arrangements are under the direction of the Null and Son Funeral Home of Rolla.
