Elaine Marie Gilliland, 78, of Grinnell died on July 21, 2020, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A graveside service and burial has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 25th, at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell with Rev. John Epperson of Grinnell officiating. Honorary bearers are Emily, Lainie, and Michael Gilliland, Steven Hodges, Kathy Kraninger, and Jake Olson. A family gathering will be held from 9:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Memorial contributions may be designated to the donor's choice. Elaine was born on March 13, 1942, in Montezuma, the daughter of George Elmer and Fern Maurine Berry Shook. She was one of 12 children. She was raised in Grinnell and was a graduate of Grinnell High School. On April 13, 1968, she was united in marriage to Charles Earl "Jake" Gilliland in Unionville, Missouri, and the couple continued to live in Grinnell where they raised their four children and four grandchildren together. Elaine was employed as a cook with the Grinnell-Newburg School District for 25 years and retired from there in May of 2002. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and various genealogy societies. She was also a former Cub Scout, Blue Bird and Campfire Girls leader. She was a volunteer at the Grinnell Historical Museum. She held a passion for crocheting, genealogy, and traveling, including her "Annual Sisters Reunion" with Kathy, Marty and Helen. Elaine loved cooking with her family and teaching her grandchildren how to cook and sharing her recipes with them. She enjoyed "dancing in her kitchen." Elaine is survived by her children, Donald C. Gilliland of Des Moines, Carla M. Kraninger of Grinnell, Charles E. Gilliland of Anchorage, Alaska, and Connie "Jodi" Gilliland of Des Moines; one step-son, Michael Gilliland of Hanoi, Vietnam; seven sisters, Kathryn Benson of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Marty Mitts of Golden Valley, Arizona, Helen Sharkey of Mountain Grove, Marcella Houge of Boone, Connie Wheeler of Des Moines, Bonnie Otto of Des Moines, and Margaret Shook-Carl of Alaska; two brothers James Shook of Pella and Jerry Shook of Marshalltown; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and Charlie's beloved cat, Fenris. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles in 2009; a son-in-law, Larry Kraninger; a grandson, Steven Scott Olson; two brothers, John and George Shook her parents, George and Fern; and her grandparents, Roger and Maude Nail Berry and Elijah and Elsie Provin Shook.