J.C. Gilroy, 64, of Lawrence, passed away unexpectedly Friday, April 22, 2022, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He grew up in Eudora and graduated from Eudora High School.
After graduating from high school, he worked as a correctional officer and later a Douglas County Deputy Sheriff. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in 1990. He later went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1996.
He worked for various law firms before establishing his own in Lawrence, Kansas where he practiced law for over 20 years. J.C. also served on a panel of local defense attorneys who assisted the Douglas County community. J.C. took special pride in providing counsel to his juvenile clients and children deemed to be “in need of care.” J.C. spent most of his life helping others.
J.C. met his wife, Linda, working at the Colorado Mountain Ranch. They lived in Boulder before settling down in Lawrence. They married in 1988 and later had two children, Daniel and Kirsten.
Family was important to J.C. and he was always available to lend a hand. He spent many hours providing his mom companionship and support. In his free time, he enjoyed his many projects such as remodeling the house, woodworking, and tending his garden.
He also loved all aspects of sports; from playing and watching basketball, to umpiring baseball, to coaching his son’s sports teams.
He is survived by his wife, Linda; son, Daniel; daughter, Kirsten; his mother, Pauline; three siblings, Cathy Johnson, Connie Gilroy, and husband Chip, and Jim Gilroy, and wife Joleen; his wife Linda’s family, including her father, sister, and brother and sister-in-law; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Gilroy; sisters, Colette Foster, Cyrilla Loria, and Carolyn Crews; and brothers-in-law Randy Johnson, and Allan Loria; Linda’s mother, and brother-in-law.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 12 at Rumsey- Yost Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow the visitation at the funeral home. Please stay and share your favorite stories of J.C. with us. Inurnment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in J.C.’s memory may be made to the Colorado Mountain Ranch to establish scholarships to send kids to camp in the coming summers.
