Ernestine C. (Lourance) Gilton

Ernestine Cleta Gilton, 92, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri passed Monday, away Jan. 24, 2022, at her home in Poplar Bluff.

Ernestine was born on July 12, 1929, to Earnest and Velma Lourance in Mountain View, Arkansas.  She married Ilar Gilton June 15, 1946.

Ernestine grew up in Qulin, Missouri. After marrying Ilar, they moved to Poplar Bluff and had three children (Lynn, Bonnie, Ray). They relocated to St. Louis, Missouri where they had their fourth child (Jerry Wayne). Ernestine was a homemaker until the youngest child was school age and then went to work at Bussmann Fuse in 1958. They retired back to Poplar Bluff, Missouri in 1986 after a 28-year career.

Ernestine and her husband Ilar were founding members of the Victory Baptist Church in St. Louis, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and enjoyed leading the children’s music program for many years.  After retiring and moving back to Poplar Bluff, they joined the Living Word Baptist Church. Ernestine organized and enjoyed her time with the church quilting and crafting women’s group.

She loved to paint, sew, make crafts, ride her four-wheeler around the farm and go fishing. She had a competitive spirit and often won when playing dominoes and chinese checkers with her grandchildren. She was a quiet person and very devoted to her children.

She is survived by three children, Lynn D. Gilton (Connie), Bonnie Faughn (Jim Faughn (Deceased)), and Ray Gilton (Barb) all of Poplar Bluff; nine grandchildren, Travis Gilton, Ian Gilton, Autumn Gilton, Ray Gilton Jr. and Sherrie Anderson all of Poplar Bluff, Tina Almond of Dexter, Missouri, Tasha Abney, Clifford Gilton both of Poplar Bluff, and Joshua Gilton of St. Petersburg, Florida; nine great-grandchildren, Brandon Gilton, Hali Gilton, Trenton Gilton, Bailie Talkington, Thomas James Abney, and Trista Gilton all of Poplar Bluff, Taylor Almond and Hunter Almond of Dexter, and Heather Almond of St. Louis; two great-great-grandsons, Declan Gilton and Oliver Hopper of Poplar Bluff; and three siblings, Wanda Branscum (Bill Branscum (Deceased)), Bonita Conover (Eddie Conover), and Clyne Lourance (Melba Lourance (Deceased)) also of Poplar Bluff.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ilar Gilton of Poplar Bluff; one son, Jerry Gilton (Donna Gilton) of Poplar Bluff; her parents, Earnest Melvin Lourance and Velma (Richardson) Lourance of Arkansas, and two brothers, Bob Lourance (Janice Lourace) of Troy, Missouri and Chester Lourance (Avis Lourance) of Poplar Bluff.

Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services in Poplar Bluff. The funeral services will follow at noon  in the chapel with Pastor Donny Emmons officiating. Burial will take place at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral and Cremation Services is proud to serve the family of Ernestine C. Gilton.