Obituary of Roger Ellis Gulliver

Roger E, Gulliver, age 66, passed peacefully at home and went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 07, 2017 after a brave and valiant 15 month battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer. His loving wife, daughter, granddaughters and sister in law, Sharon were at his side. Roger was born August 4th, 1950, son of the late Edward F. and Barbara N. (Sanborn) Gulliver. He graduated with honors from Leominster High School and attended Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA. There, he met the love of his life, Bonnie Jean Hanson. They were married August 19th, 1972 in The First Baptist Church in Gardner. On Father’s Day in 1981 his only daughter, Marjorie, was born. Roger worked as a night manager at the local IGA before beginning his career at Digital Equipment Corporation, working in several locations including Westminster, MA and Salem, NH until his retirement from the Government Systems Group in Pittsburg in 1990. Roger and family then relocated to Barefoot Bay Florida where he worked as a travel agent. This was a perfect job for Roger as he always enjoyed meeting new people and socializing. He accompanied many groups on bus tours to plays and day trips throughout the state. He traveled all over the globe and he and his wife hosted many cruises to the Caribbean, and to Alaska and Europe. When travel took a decline after 9/11 Roger changed careers and worked in varied automobile service positions retiring from Audi of Melbourne as a Service Advisor. Roger was a wonderful cook and loved hosting dinners and parties in his home. In 1989 he was featured as the “June Cook of the Month” on the Lifestyle page of The Gardner News. He was well known for his famous apple pie and baking specialty cakes for friends and co-workers, especially for birthdays and holidays. Roger had a lifetime collection of wonderful stories and had a way of capturing his audience with tales of his adventures from his days at Digital, his travels and life in general. When Rog was in the room there was never a lack of entertainment. Always articulate and humorous and he had a way of pulling you right into the adventure along with him. Roger was a jack of all trades. He could renovate and re-decorate and was a master wall paper hanger and painter, often lending his talents to friends and family. He could rise to any task at hand and could repair just about anything. He was proud of the beautiful home he made with Bonnie Jean where together they enjoyed living and entertaining. Soon after his diagnosis, Roger and Bonnie Jean retired and lived the last 15 months to the fullest. They spent as much time as possible with friends and family attending plays and movies and dining out. They took an extended trip to New England. After stopping in Atlanta to visit friends they drove up through the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. They enjoyed a family reunion at his sister’s home, visited friends at Salisbury Beach and spent several peaceful days in the White Mountains with Cousin Diane and her husband, Rich. During that year, they also helped daughter, Marjorie, and family re-locate to a new home 5 minutes away from theirs which has been a great blessing. Roger was strong and determined throughout his chemotherapy treatment and never let it stop him from doing the all the things he wanted for as long as he was able. He was a fighter every day and kept his sense of humor to the end. Roger was husband to Bonnie Jean for 44 years. He was Dad to daughter, Marjorie, father-in-law to Anthony Crawford, and Grandpa to Bradley, Brandon, Brayden, Kayle and Kerra. He leaves his brothers, Edward Jr. and wife Lois of Treadway, TN and James of Leominster, MA and sister, Cynthia Jobin and husband David, of Lunenburg MA. Roger also leaves his aunt, Florence Puchlerz, sisters-in-law Sandra Stone and Joyce Gulliver and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents and his brother, John, “Jackie”, who was killed during a robbery at the Rockefeller Resort on the island of St Croix in September, 1972. A celebration of Roger’s life will be held on Wednesday January 11, 2017 at The First Baptist Church, 3301 Dairy Road, Melbourne, Florida. Calling hours will be Wednesday, January 11, 2017 from 10 am-12 pm. at The First Baptist Church, 3301 Dairy Road, Melbourne, Florida. Service will begin at 12 pm. and the burial will be private. A collation for friends and family will follow the service at the church. At Roger+óGé¼Gäós request and in honor of his niece, Jillian Vadiz, contributions may be made for Wegener+óGé¼Gäós Disease research to Dr. John L. Niles, Research Foundation, Vasculitis and Glomerulonephritis Center, 101 Merrimac Street, Boston, MA 02114