Lisa Marie Gambill Silhavy, 48, of Portsmouth, was surrounded by her family when she passed away on Monday, October 30, 2023, at the OSU Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. She was born on October 14, 1975, in Portsmouth to Kathe Diane Nesler Kurtz and Robert Edward Gambill.
Lisa was a collector of people. She had the exceptional gift of helping others and she put that gift into action by providing those in need with advice, guidance, and sometimes even a home. A 1993 graduate of Portsmouth High School, she enjoyed her time in the PHS Band of Tomorrow. Lisa was also a graduate of Shawnee State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She often said her favorite job was as an RN in the ICU of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. In 2020, she earned a Masters of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville and she worked for the SSU Student Life Center and as a mental health counselor at PATH Behavioral Healthcare in Portsmouth prior to early retirement due to declining health. A nurturer, she reveled in spending time with her beloved grandchildren.
Surviving are her parents, Robert E. (Debra) Gambill and Kathe D. Nesler (Chuck) Kurtz, all of Portsmouth; her longtime companion and fiancé, Joseph “Joe” A. Dalton of Portsmouth; her five children, Haley (Craig) McLaughlin of Tampa, FL, Maegan O’Ryan (Wesley) Scherer of Columbus, Christopher Silhavy of IN, Jessica Renee Silhavy (Gene) Maynard of Marysville, and Isaac Silhavy of IN; three brothers, Robert E. (Daniela Kathrina “Kat”) Gambill of Anchorage, AK, Christopher (Emilie) Meade of Columbus and John Andrew (Elizabeth Thomin) Gambill of Columbus; and grandchildren, Luke, Emma, Connor, Jaymes, Rowyn, Avery and Walker.
Lisa was preceded in death by her brother, James “Jimmy” Joseph Gambill, and his daughter, Alexandrea Renea Gambill; maternal grandparents, Janet and Charles Nesler; and paternal grandmother, Gertrude Legge.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 6 P.M. Friday at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth with Rev. Evan D. Fisher officiating.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home Friday.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lisa’s memory may be made to the Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery Foundation, P.O. Box 333, Portsmouth, OH 45662.
