85, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, passed away on January 17, 2025. She was born on December 22, 1939, in Savannah, Georgia, to William and Samantha Douberly. She was the sister to William II, Gerald, Ronald and Kenneth all of Savannah, Georgia. She married Benjamin Chavez Jr. in 1956 and they had nine children together. Ben passed away in 1972, but she found love again and was married to William Gilliam for almost 50 years. He passed away in 2022. Gloria dedicated her life to public service as a nursing assistant, social worker, and educator. She was instrumental in organizing early education programs for farm workers’ children with the United Farm Workers Union and served as a catechism teacher at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Rye, Colorado. Her work with mentally impaired adults at facilities in Colorado and Texas earned her multiple honors, including Teacher of the Year in Pueblo and 1974 Citizen of the Year in La Jara, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Benjamin Chavez and William Gilliam; brothers Billy and Ronnie; and daughter Josephine Maria Chavez. She is survived by her children: Benjamin III (Alejandro), Brigid (Randy), William (Valerie), Amy (Tim), Gina (James), Carol (Jamie), Robert (Netta), and Mary (Matt); 15 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; brothers Gerald and Kenneth Douberly; her canine child Spot, and numerous extended family members.
Memorial and funeral service will be held at 11:30am, March 7, 2025, at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.