Una Katherine (Gillmore) Cohu

Una Katherine Cohu, 91, Lamar, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2010, at Christian Health Care in Nevada where she had lived since suffering a debilitating stroke after surgery in 2000. She was a great example and always believed you can keep going long after you think you can’t. Una was born Dec. 31, 1918, at Neosho to Samuel and Minnie (Erskin) Gillmore. 

While raising her family, she told her children that each one was responsible for their own actions. She saw the best in everyone and faced new challenges with courage and humor, even more so during her 10 years of being unable to write, speak, walk or use of her right side. Her smile and great heart will be missed by many.

On April 16, 1937, at Neosho, she married Glen Roger Cohu and they had celebrated over 56 years of marriage before his death Jan. 24, 1994.

Una was devoted to the loving care of her family and others. While living in Washington state, Kansas City and Lamar areas, she was a home health provider. She enjoyed traveling and had traveled most of the United States. She had visited Germany, Switzerland and France.

Always active in her community, Una had been a volunteer for Chastains and Lakeview Nursing Home of Lamar. She also volunteered for American Red Cross Bloodmobile and Barton County Library story hour. She was a 1996 Volunteer Award Person by Yakow Smirnoff and Comrad Entertainment. Una was 1993 Fellowship of Christian Athletes award winner for oldest woman walker in the Lamar Fair. She was a member of Central Christian Center of Joplin where she previously assisted in children’s nursery and with the yearly Easter egg hunt.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two stillborn sons, Loyd and Roger Cohu; her parents; three sisters - Tressa Gillmore, Helen Staples and Hazel Ivie; a brother, Marion Gillmore; and a granddaughter, Heather Cohu.

Survivors include - four children and their spouses - Tommie and Inez Cohu - Blue Springs, Roger and Eileen Cohu - Overland Park, KS, Patti and Leroy Ross - El Dorado Springs and Janet and Bob Sitton - Lamar; eight grandchildren and their spouses - Janell Sitton-Coats - Joplin, Rollin and Monica Cohu - Tijeras, NM, Kathy and Barry Witt - El Dorado Springs, Sheri and Mike Higgins - Odessa, Krista and Tommy Norrid - Springfield, Jennifer and Brandon Williams - Merriam, KS, Cami Cohu and Michael Cohu - both of Blue Springs; and nine great-grandchildren - Khloe’, Olivia and Cambria Witt - El Dorado Springs; Ian, Sean and Adriana Cohu - Tijeras, NM; Jackson Norrid - Springfield; Emma Williams - Merriam, KS, and Gracie Sitton-Coats - Joplin.

Services began at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Daniel Funeral Home, Lamar. The family received friends from 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday. Burial was in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Pittsburg, KS.