Freda Pauline Gill Obituary (2024)

Freda "Pauline" Gill (Beam) went to be with the Lord on May 5, 2024. She was born on June 5, 1929, in Mount Ida, Arkansas to Orville and Beth Beam. She had a twin sister, Charlene, and two brothers, Bill and John. Pauline graduated from Norman High School in Norman, Arkansas, in 1948. While attending high school, Pauline met the love of her life, James Freddie Gill. Fred gave up an opportunity to play professional baseball and chose to marry Pauline on September 28,1948. While waiting for Fred to propose, Pauline worked as a telephone operator in Mount Ida. In 1949, Pauline and Fred moved west in search of work. They started to follow the logging trade and moved to Arizona with Fred's parents while he went to Washington in search of other opportunities. Meanwhile, Pauline stayed behind in Arizona since she was pregnant with their first son, Charles Michael "Mike" Gill. Fred and his brother, Charles, moved to Longview and began working for Longbell Lumber Co. He later went to work for the Longview Police Department. In 1953, Pauline and Fred welcomed their second son, James Gregory Gill. They stayed in Longview until 1957 when they moved to Prosser, Washington. Pauline and Fred became involved in the Grandview Baptist Church and were instrumental in starting a mission in Prosser where Pauline discovered her heart for teaching children about the love of the Lord. They then moved to Yakima, where Pauline had several occupations including grocery clerk and bus driver for East Valley School District while continuing to work with children at her church. In 1962, Fred and Pauline purchased their home on Mountain View Avenue in Terrace Heights. This home was where they grew their family-welcoming daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a great great grandchild along with many friends gathering for pie, coffee and late-night UNO games after church. She always loved designing and decorating so becoming a representative for Home Interiors was the perfect fit until she retired in 2000. Fred passed away in 2007, and Pauline remained living independently in their home until 2021 when she decided she wanted to move to Orchard Park Retirement Community. Pauline is preceded in death by her parents (Orville and Beth Beam), brothers (Bill and John Beam), sister (Charlene Irwin), husband Fred Gill, and many others. Pauline is survived by her sons Mike (Sandy) Gill, Greg (Angie) Gill, six grandchildren, Jaimi (Keith) Rogers, Jeff Gill, Corey (Rebecca) Gill, Cherie Sonoda, Jen (Brad) Bailey, Matt (Shanon) Gill, ten great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild and a sister-in-law Jodie Gill of Arizona and numerous nieces and nephews. Pauline will be greatly missed by all those who were privileged to know her. Viewing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Shaw & Sons Funeral Home, 201 N 2nd St, Yakima, WA from 3:00-7:00PM. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 1:00PM at First Baptist Church, 2706 S 2nd St, Union Gap, WA, followed by burial at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com.