Clyde Bertram Gilmore

Clyde Bertram Gilmore, 100, of Pleasant Grove born on October 1, in Lipscomb, AL to Thomas Minter & Lucy Katherine Gilmore, passed away on November 29, 2020. He graduated from Bessemer High School in 1939 & was in the Navy. Shortly thereafter he married Tommie Merle Espey, and they had one son together. They were married for 54+ years before she preceded him in death. Clyde lived & worked in Bessemer most of his life. He was mostly in the automotive parts business until he retired at 92 years of age. He worked at Western Auto, Bessemer Auto Parts, Mulkins Auto Parts & Westwood Auto Parts, just to name a few places. Clyde Gilmore was very blessed by God in many ways. Even though he lost his first wonderful wife, God blessed him with a second very loving & beautiful lady – Betty Ruth Graham. They have been married 24+ years & attend Pleasant Grove Nazarene Church & Wednesday Luncheons at Bethlehem United Methodist Church. Clyde loved to talk, fly fish, play cards, sing in Church, watch Auburn football, tell & retell jokes & corny stories to anyone that would listen, watch Wheel of Fortune & The Gaither’s with his Sweet Betty, & he had a wonderful love affair with Jack’s apple pies & eating ice cream. Clyde took fashion tips from no one. He proudly wore his 2 pocket shirts everywhere, with his note pad in his left pocket; his cell phone always on him; his Auburn jacket & his Navy hat while proudly talking about the Lord or football, because he never met a stranger. He was always one with a quick one liner. “You’re good, but I’m gooder.” When it was time to open a door: “Age before Beauty.” He told everyone he had been given an Honorary PhD degree – “Post Hole Digger”. Being a Gideon speaker was one his biggest passions. Speaking & collecting donations for Bibles was something he was driven to do. “Send Bibles!” He would always say. Even while living at The Oaks, he sang hymns; passed out over 70 Bibles; prayed with others & continued to lead people to God at 99/100 years of age. Clyde Gilmore is predeceased in death by his sisters Myrtle Lee (Gilmore) Banks, Katie Mae (Gilmore) Walls; & by his brothers Robert Mason Gilmore, Lee Roy Gilmore, Clarence Huey Gilmore, & James Lester Gilmore. Clyde is survived by his beautiful & loving wife - Betty Graham Gilmore of Pleasant Grove, AL; son - Jack B. Gilmore (Gwendolyn) of Hueytown, AL; granddaughter – Joey Diane Gilmore Gloekler (Mark) of Monroe, NC. 3 Great Granddaughters, 2 Great-Great Grandsons. Along with his Graham Family: Blake Graham (Pat) of Hoover, AL; Stewart Graham (Martha) of Pelham, AL; 4 Grandchildren (Adam, Casey, Josh & Alyssa) & 5 Great-Grand Children. The Lesson we should take from Clyde Gilmore’s Life is: When it comes time to die, make sure all we have to do is die because we have lived our life doing what God has asked us to do. Call Each Other & “Send Bibles!” as he would always say. In Lieu of flowers please “Send Bibles” by contributing to Gideons International, P. O. Box 1744, Bessemer, AL 35021.

Clyde Bertram Gilmore

October 1, 1920 - November 29, 2020