Lillie Mae was born at home in Chicago, Illinois, to her parents Lulu Smith Clark and George Clark on December 28, 1922. She had one half-sister, Merle, and three brothers: John Clark, Lloyd Clark, and her youngest brother, George Clark.

She grew up in Chicago and graduated from Parker High School in 1940. She met and married her husband, Ernest L Gilmore, Jr., on June 9,1944. They were married for 61 years before his passing in 2005. She is survived by her two children: William R Gilmore and wife June and Janice L Schleser and husband Dan. She also has 4 grandsons: Richard, David, Daniel, and Jay; also, there are three great-grandsons: Andrew, Evan and Eric, plus three great -granddaughters:

McKenna, Cloe, and Caitlyn. Her brother George has a daughter, Cherie Dermid, living in Texas that she has remained close with throughout her life.

During her married life, she worked for Vogue-Butterick Pattern Company in Chicago. She retired from them as the Assistant District Manager of the Chicago office. After retirement, she and Ernie moved to Bradenton, Florida, where they enjoyed 20 years together. They loved to travel and went on many cruises together. She was a member of the Florida Society of the Dames of the Court of Honor.

In 1999, they purchased a home in Willard, Missouri, and soon after relocated there. They became members of the Willard Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church and looked forward to their activities through the Willard Senior Center and exercise classes at the Willard Recreation Center.

After her husband, Ernie's, passing in 2005, she spent time with her daughter,

Janice and her husband, Dan, in Illinois. She also would visit with her son, William and wife, June, in Missouri. After a brief illness, she passed peacefully at Maple Wood Care Center in Springfield, Missouri, on August 6, 2017. She was a much loved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be remember lovingly.