Carol Jean "Carrie" Gillanders

Carol Jean Gillanders (aka Carrie, CJ, Surfer Girl, Malibu Barbie, Stinky) was born August 12, 1970, to Ann and John Culbertson in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She graduated from Putnam City High School in 1988. She is survived by her loving husband, Jerry (Gill) Gillanders and his daughters, Samantha and Dara; her parents; her sister, Mary Beth Treece; and a very large extended family and countless friends. Stinky touched so many lives, and she never met a stranger. She was the ultimate hostess. She was a generous spirit.While Carrie never birthed a child, she considered her cherished friends as her babies. She was the lake mom, the party mom. She taught the roughest and toughest how to be the sweetest and kindest. She loved spending time with her nieces and nephews, crowned by an annual elaborate Easter egg dyeing and decorating tradition. Her niece Lauren was known to CJ's friends as her doppelgänger, a fact that gave Carrie much pride. She was the fiercest Momma Bear. "Game over" was a phrase you did not want to hear from her. She was never cruel or mean, but she'd eat you alive for messing with her babies.She was one of the most passionate people. She could make anything fun, and by that we mean everything – a baby shower, a party for someone you didn't like, a divorce, even a funeral. As much as we all loved her, we treasured her ability to bring fun. She forced her loved ones to be brave, to break past their fears and inhibitions and be the best versions of themselves. Her passion was for everyone to "Get over it and have fun".She was an artist. Most people know about her painting and remodeling business "My Girl Friday", but may not know that her love of art and painting goes way back. She went to the University of Central Oklahoma on an art scholarship, though her greatest love was music. She loved a good live show, and actually earned the nickname Stinky by chasing fellow moshers away with her particular brand of stank. Carrie loved and excelled at story-telling, a trait she inherited from both her mom and her dad. While bartending, Carrie could sling the slowest cocktail around – complete with a story and master of the "joke and smoke". She made a mighty fine club special and she made the worst shots, but you drank them because you loved her. She rocked the Spinozi's showstopper or any karaoke opportunity.Carrie was an amazing copier salesperson. At one point she spent just enough time selling copiers to cover her passion for the slalom course. She loved slalom skiing at sunset for that "Malibu moment." Life begins where the land ends was one of her many mottos.Carrie loved costumes and wigs. This love began in childhood, with her dramatic performance of Murder at the Twilight Inn. This passion was further strengthened when she and The Other White Meat, Keri Kise Runkle, lived in a house together and, upon exploring the attic, discovered a box of 30-year-old wigs. Thus began the Wig Parties.Just a few of her notable accomplishments would be that she Lived and loved fiercely, was kicked out of the Dallas Cowboys stadium, broke her sister's nose with her knee while tubing, cried at a Creed concert, and introduced The Levels of body odor (grapefruit > pencil shavings > Whataburger onions > terrorist levels).There has never been a stronger love than that shared by Carrie and Gill. It is undying. We've never seen love (or fight) so strong. Their sweet souls are perfect for each other. Carrie and Gill have taught us all what it looks like to truly love your best friend. Please join the family to celebrate Carrie 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2019 at TAP Architecture 415 N Broadway Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102