FRAMINGHAM – Karin (Erickson) Gilley, wife of Winslow (Dick) Gilley, formerly of Natick, Ashland and most recently Brookdale Cushing Park in Framingham, passed away peacefully in her sleep, Friday, July 27, 2018. She was 96 years old.
Karin was the daughter of the late Carl and Karin Erickson, and spent her childhood in the home her father built on Morses Pond in Wellesley. She was the oldest of six: Roy Erickson, the late Arthur Erickson, Donald Erickson, Lillian (Erickson) Leupold and Ellen (Erickson) Enemark.
Karin and Dick were married on Oct. 5, 1946, and would have celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary this year.
Before their marriage, Karin was a clerical worker at MIT, Babson and Raytheon. After raising her children, she went back to work assisting the elderly for TLC of Framingham for 10 years. In their early years, Karin and Dick spent many summers at their camp on Lake Winnipesaukee, making wonderful memories, with family and friends. Later on, they traded the camp for a travel trailer and enjoyed traveling around New England, often accompanied by their children and grandchildren. After retirement, they took several cross-country trips in their new motorhome.
Karin enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to cook, sew and embroider, at which she was very talented. Karin was always friendly and cheerful and had a smile for everyone she met.
She is survived by her children: Dana Gilley and his wife Jane of Litchfield, NH; David Gilley and his wife Lyette of Wellesley; Linda Hemstedt and her fiancé Gregg Morrissey of Bellingham; and Carolyn McPherson and her husband Brian of Natick.
She also leaves her grandchildren: the late Karl Gilley and his wife Kathryn of Chatham; Erik Gilley and his wife Molly of Martha’s Vineyard and Catherine (Gilley) Morris and her husband Bryant of Litchfield, NH; Kristina (Gilley) Kemp and her husband Michael of Hudson; Richard Gilley and his wife Stephanie of Aurora, CO; Jennifer Hemstedt and her fiancé Daniel Aaron of Bellingham; and Melissa Hemstedt and Michael Thomas of Windsor, CT; along with 14 great-grandchildren ranging in ages from 1 month to 14 years.
The family will celebrate her life, privately, at her childhood home in Wellesley, now the home of her son David.