The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-09-20
Death of Calvin ellis.

The Times Union of Saturday las
contained an Associated Press ac
count of the death at Atlantic City
Of Calvin Gillis, youngest son of the
late Calvin Gillis, and both former
residents of Palatka.
According to this account, Mr.. Gil.
lis died in the ocean last Friday, in
water not more than waist deep.
He was seen to wade underneath
the steeplechase pier and suddenly
disappeared. Lifeguards rushed to
his rescue and brought him ashore,
but he did not regain consciousness.
Surgeon Beckwith said that Gillis'
death was not due to drowning, but
to heart failure. He was member
of the knights of Pythias, and had a
ticket in his pocket reading from
Baltimore to Atlantic City,
Deceased was the youngest son of
the late Calvin Gillis, up to 1895 one
of the most prominent citizens of
Palatka. His mother is a sister of Mrs
Mary Benet of this city. The family
moved to Asheville, N. c., in 1896 for
reasons of health, and there the faith
er died in 1898. A brother, Hon.
Irving Gillis was prominent attor-
ney of this city, and a member of the
Florida Constitutional Convention
of 1885, who died in this city in 1893.
Calvin Gillis, the younger, whose
death is now reported, was born and
grew to manhood in Palatka, and
was young man of sterling worth
and ability. He attended the public
schools of this city and was esteem
ed highly by his associates and his
elders, all of whom unhesitatingly
predicted for him life of great use
fulness. His death in his 32d year is
the cause of much sorrow in this
city.
He is Survived by his mother, one
sister, Hiss Waddell Gillis, and one
brother, Mr.. Donald Gillis, all of |
Asheville, N. c.
Calvin Gillis was formerly city ed |
itor of the Asheville Daily Citizen,
which paper makes the following |
editorial reference to his death:
1T is with deep regret that the
Citizen today chronicles the death of
another former member of it's staff,
Mr.. Calvin Gillis. Death under any
is repellant, and it
leaves trail of sorrow and grief in
whatever shape it falls, but when
the dread message comes without
warning, like a thief in the night,
then Is its sting doubly poignant.
Calvin Gillis was called away in the
prime of his manhood, while taking
4 well earned rest at Atlantic City,
and the suddenness of his call is
crushing blow to his aged mother in
5his city and to the brother and sis
jer who survive him. 1t is to these
hat the Citizen expresses its deep
est sympathy, finding only one ray
If comfort in the fact that the spend
ng of q life as Mr. Gillis spent it
caves no doubt as to his final re-
ward.
"Those who knew Mr.. Gillis will
ecall his retiring disposition and
,entle nature. He was one of those
nen who do things without brass
,and accomplishments. OF him it
;Ould be truly said: He was gentle,
lie was good, in his heart there was
10 guile AS a newspaper worker
lie was indefatigable, a veritable
soldier of the day night was he, I
lever faltering until the last word !
lad been given to the paper which +
ie served so well and faithfully. \
And now for him the last call of q
thirty has been sounded. He is
ace to face with mystery which
% man has ever solved. For count |
ess ages science has tried in vain to /
fierce the drapery of the tomb, but b
20 one has yet penetrated the mists Il
eyond. But we who remain know t
hat the grave is not the end, and o
hose who survive him whom we
ow mourn, would not, if they could, +
all back the sen and brother who .
as hidden farewell to the cares and T
orrows of this life" I