Maurice E. Gilmer

Maurice passed to a place where there is no further pain on Sunday evening. Maurice is survived by his wife of 59 years, Charlotte; special niece Judy Ross of PA; "daughter almost" Sue McCord of IN; in-law niece Sharon Ebell and Lina Romero and family of Los Lunas, NM and several other nieces and many friends. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He is predeceased by his father and step-mother, George and Esther Gilmer; mother and step-father Vivian and Les Darrow; brothers Eugene, LaVernge and Stanley; and sister Ruth. He served four years in the US Air Force and attended DeVry Technical School in Chicago, IL. He began work at Sandia Laboratories in 1957 and worked there for 28 and A½ years retiring in 1985. Most of his time at Sandia Labs was spent at the Nevada Test Site. Maurice was a member of Masonic Temple Lodge #6, AF&AM as well as many other Masonic organizations, including the Ballut Abyad Shrine. He served Temple Lodge #6 as Master of the Lodge in 1982, chief cook and photographer for many years and prepared lunches for the Masonic Widow's Club. His most cherished position was Chairman of the Ashlar Rainbow Girl's Advisory Board. They were "his girls." He served as Rainbow Dad many times. Many thanks go to the special staff of The Albuquerque Kidney Center. They became part of his family in his 11 years on kidney dialysis. He missed two dialysis treatments in those years, one snow day and Saturday, January 17 2015 when he was too weak for the treatment. Maurice accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior many years ago and was active for several years in church activities. A celebration of Maurice's life will be held on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Lodge #6, 3801 Osuna Blvd. NE. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the NM Rainbow Girls Foundation at 9820 Signal Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122, or to the charity of your choice. The Foundation provides college scholarships to deserving New Mexico Rainbow Girls. Grand Assembly donations may be sent to Mary McClain, Supreme Deputy @ PO Box 1606 Taiban, NM 88134 Donations to Rainbow Girls Foundation to C/O Ernest Pompeo 9820 Signal Ave, Albq. NM 87122