Gladys “Lee Ilah” Weaver, 97, was born to Spillman and Viola Viles on January 1, 1929, in Havre, Montana. She spent her childhood in Cutbank, Montana and moved to Salinas, California when she was a teen. There she graduated from Salinas High, followed by San Jose State with a degree in interior design.

She began her interior design career in the Bay area. After moving to the valley to follow her husband’s architecture career, she turned to education and earned her teaching credential from Fresno State College, after which she taught art at Roosevelt High School in Fresno for 30 years. Later she received a master’s in art history, as well as an administrative credential from California State University, Fresno, and was a member of the American Association of University Women and Alpha Delta Kappa.

Lee’s father, who was a WWI veteran who served in Europe, encouraged her to support the military by attending the USO dances. It was at one of these dances she met John Isaac Weaver, the man with whom she would share more than 70 years of marriage. They were married on July 20, 1952. John and Lee traveled the world extensively together, and with friends and family, and enjoyed an active social life with weekly breakfast and Friday evening dinners with friends.

Lee loved animals, art, and traveling, but most of all, her family. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren absolutely lit up her world, and the joy she felt when she was with them was unmistakable. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose gentle spirit and kindness touched everyone who knew her. Her memory will live on in the lives she touched and in the beautiful memories she created with those she loved and the many who loved her.

Mom was a devoted member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, and her faith was an important part of who she was. She found great comfort and strength in turning to the Bible, regularly reading and studying Scripture and reflecting on lessons it taught. She also valued the teachings found in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and sought to put those teachings into practice in her daily life. Her faith was not simply something she believed, it was something she lived, drawing on prayer, Scripture, and spiritual understanding for guidance, comfort and strength throughout her life.

After two years apart, she has been reunited in Heaven with her husband John. She is survived by their only son, Alan Weaver and his wife Pegi; grandson Jacob Weaver and his partner Michelle Hinojosa; Granddaughter Brittney Boren and husband Michael; and her two great-grandchildren, Mason and Kenzie Boren.

Services will be held Friday, August 21. Viewing will be from 9:30-10:30AM at Yost & Webb Funeral Chapel at 1002 T St., Fresno. Graveside at 11 AM at Mountain View Cemetery, 1411 Belmont Ave., Fresno. Family and friends are invited to share memories at a luncheon following the service at the Fresno Masonic Lodge.