Michelle Olmstead Gilliam formerly of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Sunday morning, October 4, 2009, in the Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, Kansas, at the age of 47 years.

Michelle Olmstead Gilliam was born on May 17, 1962, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Donald Ralph and Donna Carol (Wilson) Olmstead. She grew up in Blackwell attending Blackwell elementary school before moving to Manhattan, Kansas, where she attended Manhattan Jr. and Sr. High Schools. Following her education she trained to become a certified nursing assistant and upon completion of the program began working in home health care in Manhattan.

She is survived by her parents; Donald R. Olmstead of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Donna Olmstead of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; a daughter, Megan Murphy of Manhattan, Kansas; a sister, Renee West and husband Greg of Manhattan, Kansas; three brothers, Alva Olmstead and wife Shelly of Wichita, Kansas, Sonny Olmstead and wife Donna of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Newell Olmstead and wife Becky of Blackwell, Oklahoma; and four grandchildren, Nathaniel, London, Cameron and Zechariah Murphy all of Manhattan, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Leavorn Olmstead and Mildred Anderson, and maternal grandparents, Newell and Verda Wilson.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 7th in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel in Blackwell with the Rev. Matt Smith of Immanuel Baptist Church, officiating. The eulogy will be presented by Dr. Isaac West of Iowa City, Iowa. Burial will follow in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery in Tonkawa, Oklahoma.

Serving as casketbearers will be Shane Olmstead, Newell Olmstead, Dr. Isaac West, Sonny Olmstead, Alva Olmstead and Newell Olmstead Jr.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 9th, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Cock-N-Bull Tavern in Manhattan, Kansas.