OldHippie Memorial

On Tuesday August 2, 2005 our friend Bill Gilmore took his own life.

Those of you who knew him are invited to add your thoughts and memories of Bill here.

Email your addition along with your nick name to stinknasty@hotmail.com

William E. Gilmore Jr.

ST. MARYS William E. Gilmore, Jr., 56, St. Marys, died Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at his home. He was born July 20, 1949 in Topeka, the son of William E. Gilmore, Sr. and Helen Walters Gilmore. William graduated from Topeka High School in 1967. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972 during the Vietnam War and served in the Reserves for two years. He worked as a machinist for Jeffrey Energy Center for over 25 years. William rode a Harley. He is survived by two daughters, Amber Gilmore 22, Topeka; and Chelsea Gilmore 12, Silver Lake; mother and step-father, Helen and Dana Jones, Mission, Texas; a sister, Deanna K. Johnson, Mission, Texas. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel. Interment will be in Admire Cemetery where military honors will be conducted by a funeral detail from Fort Riley. Mr. Gilmore will lie in state after 3 p.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel where the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to William E. Gilmore, Jr. memorial fund for the education of Chelsea Gilmore in care of U.S. Bank, 1017 S.W. Gage Blvd. Topeka, Kan. 66604. To leave a special message for the family please visit www.PenwellGabel.com
Published in the Topeka Capital-Journal on 8/4/2005.

In the Arms of the Angels , a song for OldHippie performed by sweetjane (janie)

Exquisite Pain

(in memory and celebration of Bill Gilmore)

Pain, shared among friends,
is an oddly lighter burden.

In our world, we talk
through opaque windows
of electronic glass, and
occasionally
see clearly.

I saw a strong, good man;
I see him still.
Sometimes, in his presence,
I saw myself and others
more clearly.

I shall miss this man,
as I miss myself
when my pain
hides me.

If our human love
could heal completely,
we would, my friends
and I, be
whole.

- Julia A. Thompson, VenusRose

OldHippie was one of the good guys. He was a hard worker and a loving father. He helped many people in chat and will be sorely missed.

The last time I spoke with him, he was stressed and upset. Life was unfair to him in many ways. Part of me will always feel guilty that I couldn't find the right words for him that last time. I wish I could have made things better for him.

I'll never forget how happy he was when he got his house and his dog, Mutt. At a year old, he said Mutt still thought he was a puppy. That made me smile. I'll never be able to think of a beer butt chicken without thinking of him. I wish I could have sat down and eaten one with him.

Goodbye, OldHippie. I hope you found the peace I so wanted you to find in life.

- zort

You were a good friend to me and I hope I was a good friend to you. I will miss you, bro, and I hope you are in a better place now than you had on this planet. Maybe one day we will argue the merits of Kansas barbecue vs Carolina barbecue, but till that day arrives, I will think of you often. You did more good in this life than you probably realize.

-Bearcat

I remember when I first came into mixednuts and hippie was there. He made me feel like i was part of the group. Whenever I came in he would say "There's my sweet Dutch maiden", and I smiled, even when I felt bad. Hippie, love, I hope you can find peace now. God, in His mercy, must shine His face on you now, knowing how hurt you were and how much you paid. I will love you forever, and I miss you already.

- way

Hippie, my friend. You always loved me no matter what. You always accepted me no matter what. What a special treasure you are. You will be remembered as a wonderful friend with a special gift for acceptance and respect. May there be more people in the world like you.

You will forever be in my heart,

- Janie

I really appreciated OldHippie, we spent many afternoons talking about puppies and bbq. I miss him, and while I wish he was still with us, I sincerely hope he has found some measure of peace and rest.

Rest well, OldHippie, until we meet again.

- muse

Old Hippie, You will be sorely missed, my friend. I remember when you first came to the room,when one of our famous "odd" subjects was being discussed and you took it in stride and instantly joined in,From that moment on you became a "nutter". My wish to you is that you have found some peace at last. We all miss you Old Hippie.

- Quietgert

Words are hard to come by right now. What a wonderful caring person you were my friend OH. Right from the start when I found mixednuts you stretched out your hand of friendship and made me feel right at home. Always so accepting, caring, respectful, and ready to listen. I count it a privilege that I met and got to know you in the chat. You will be sorely missed and fondly remembered. You are at peace now. Farewell my friend Old Hippie.

- Rainboo

My Dear Friend Old Hippy,
You were an amazing friend, the first time I met you we had a 2 hour conversation about the art of Hippism, and the art of being a hippy. You are one of the kindest and gentlest person I HAD the pleasure of talking to.

In this internet world you meet millions, but only a few make an impact, people come and go But you were defiantly a keeper. I will miss your fun sense of humor the jokes, everything.... but most of all your true friendship I will look up into the evening sky and see you smiling down on us , you will be the brightest star !!!!!!!!

Almost aflame still you don't feel the heat
Takes all you got just to stay on the beat
You say it's a living, we all gotta eat
but you're here alone there's no one to compete
If mercy's in business I wish it for you
More than just ashes when your dreams come true

I will miss you my friend

- CYNN ( Cindy Wright)



Dear Old Hippie, Old Hippie Dear, 

A Chatter's Blessing: 
May the keyboard rise up to meet you.   May the wind be always at the back of your monitor.   May the sun shine 
warm upon your typing hands, and loving email fall softly in your inbox.   And until we meet again, may God hold 
you in the palm (pocket) of his hand.   Love to you, Old Hippie Friend.


- VenusRose

Though I didn't know you well, being a newcomer to this chat room, the times I did have an opportunity to talk with you were quite special because you so genuinely cared about what was going on with me. Loved your sense of humor and kinds ways, most people aren't that caring and supportive to strangers ... but I could tell right away, no one was a stranger to you and you accepted all within your big heart.
Hope that you have finally found peace because Lord knows you deserve that and much more. Please look in on the rest of us once in a while as we will always fondly remember you.

TC and God Bless,

- Blubyu

Old Hippie and I were friends for many years. At one point, we even had an on-line relationship. I will miss him very much. Hippie was a hard working man and was very proud of his two daughters, whom he loved very much. He also did tours in Viet Nam. One of his sayings was that he was 'fine as frogs hair', I hope he is now.
Gone but not forgotten, may he forever Rest in Peace.

night hippie

- crophilia x

Hippie was a dear friend I had the honor of meeting and getting to know in mixednuts as a brother. I will sorely miss his comings and goings from the room and his chats about bbq's and beer butt chicken. I take satisfaction now in knowing he may not be at his computer but he is and will be with me and the rest of us in our thots, hearts, memories and with us in spirit. God bless you Hipster for making my life better for knowing you and being a part of my life

- Ed/ehart

Well, OldHippy, you rascal you - you will be so, so sorely missed. I just can't express how much light you shined into our lives. Of course, we all wish you had stayed with us, perhaps a little selfishly. But I wish you peace and happiness on your journey; may it be a worthy adventure, and may you have grand tales to tell us when next we meet. Take good care of him for us, Mutt; he is well loved.

- thotpoizn

I am so sorry to hear about old hippie's death.

I used to chat with him in a-silver-lining. Old hippie was always very nice to me. He had nice manners always.
I sure will miss him.

- sweetpotata

Old Hippy was one of the first people who spoke to me when I first came into the room. He made me feel very welcome and at home. He sent me some photographs of the first snow on his house, they were amazing. I'm going to miss hearing his stories of Mutt and his cheeky sense of humour. God Bless you OH.

For Him

You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all he's left.

Your heart can be emmpty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he his gone
Or you can cherish the memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what he'd want;
smile,

open your eyes,

Love and go on.

Anon. - twinkle

Old Hippie was such a wonderful person. He was so very special. Always ready with a kind word or some encouragement for everyone. You did so much to help others. I know that you did more than you will ever know for me. You brought sunshine into my life just having known you. I hope that you are happy and at peace. I will miss you so much. Until we meet again, take care and know that you were loved by many.

- maui

Old Hippy ; thank you hugs for your journey . Miss ya! remember we love ya lots
With fond memories and care

- d1/ dave

To old hippie, my friend, just found out about your death tonight. Late, but never too late to discover the passing of an old friend. Dear friend, know that you touched my life, tears are falling down my cheeks as I write this, sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed a friend, but some nutter would have been had you come on nuts and told us of your pain. Zort, ehart, venus, bearcat, maui etc, any one of us would have listened, buddy. I'll never forget talking with you one night, neither of us could sleep, we talked on mixed nuts all night about barbeque, you shared your recipe for barbeque rub, still have it amongst my recipes.Unfortunately, not you, and i would rather have you, old friend. At the lowest time of my life you were there and i want to thank you for that, i know i did at the time, but perhaps i didn't remind you of that often enough, hippie. I was a hippie too, an ex-military wife, have sons currently serving in afghanistan and iraq, son wounded, so I know that pain, old hippie. We shared a common age, you always made me feel young when you would tell me i was not old when i felt 100, you made us all feel good, thank you for that. Rest in peace, dear friend, know that you are fondly remembered, and to your family let me share a deep regret at your passing and to let them know that you were a good, kind,gentle,dear man and good friend to your fellow nutters and to me personally. God bless and keep your family in his care at this time and always. See you again some day tapping on the keys to your old puter, Old Hippie, Friend...

- baf, beth

there's no more pain for you Bill as your with your higher power and in peace. hope your watching us in nuts and having a laugh now your not in pain anymore tc old pal

- rich

I'm sorry to hear about "Old Hippie". Although sometimes my visits to "Mixed Nuts" have been few and far between, I completely appreciate that it exists, and I love "meeting" everyone there when I visit. I remember Old Hippie's kindness on more than one occasion. I'll pray that he finds peace. He will be sorely missed -- it just won't be the same without him.
Rest in peace, Old Hippie.

- Flame

How sad I was to hear the news. OH was such a joy to talk to. He will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

gloria

HIPPY DEAR - Wishing you true comfort "In the Arms of the Angels".

Your friend Mary-Anne