John David Gilliam

Funeral service for John Gilliam will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 16, 2024 at Faith Community Church 177 American Road with Pastor Mark Largent officiating; interment at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, February 15, 2024 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. John David Gilliam age 94, of Gillette, WY passed away January 24, 2024 at The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center of natural causes. John was born October 18, 1929 in Hermeliegh, Texas to Willie (Bill) Joseph Patton Gilliam and Maggie Mae Hinkel Gilliam. His siblings included Alford, Willie Mae, Samuel, Molly and Earl. John attended elementary schools in Snyder, Texas. On June 28, 1952 he married Janet Gwendolyn Davis in Snyder, Texas. As a young man, John worked at different jobs, as a carpenter and in the oilfield. In May of 1954 he took a job on an oil rig, 60 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. One trip was enough (he got sea sick!); it was back to Texas! The Lord blessed the couple with two sons, Pat in 1953 and Robert in 1955. John was a hard worker and always had a job, even if he had to move to take it. In 1957 to New Mexico then on to Colorado. In 1959 work slowed down and a move to Las Vegas, Nevada took him back to being a carpenter for six and a half years. The Lord blessed again with third son, Richard in 1960, a fourth son Dale in 1964 and daughter Leah in 1965. Another move took the family back to Colorado and the blessing of a fifth son Charles in 1966. John was working in road construction when he heard there was an oil boom going on and he moved his family to Gillette, Wyoming in August 1968. After a year of working for someone else he began his own Roustabout and Oilfield construction business. The going was a little rocky at times but with the boys working in it, Janet keeping the books and running parts and Leah helping where she could, it survived for 26 years until John had a stroke and had to retire. John was a generous man with his time and all that he had. He was involved in church activities and there always seemed to be a church in construction when he moved to a new location. After retirement he helped with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team cooking after the flood in Grand Forks, Montana in the late 90’s and in south Texas after Hurricane Rita in the early 2000’s. He also enjoyed going to Keyhole and driving his 1951 Chris Craft “woodie” around, giving rides and helping kids learn to water ski. At the time of his death, he was a member of Faith Community Church in Gillette. John is survived by his wife of 71 years, Janet Gilliam of Gillette; son Pat (Deb) Gilliam of Colorado; son Robert (Diann) Gilliam of Oklahoma; son Richard (Kelly) Gilliam of Gillette; son Dale (Trici) Gilliam of Illinois; daughter Leah Leib (Paul) of Oklahoma; son Charles (Mary) Gilliam of Oklahoma; 15 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Molly; brother, Earl and numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie (Bill) and Maggie Gilliam; infant brother, Samuel; brother, Alford, and sister, Willie Mae. In lieu of flowers a donation to Faith Community Church Mission Fund would be greatly appreciated. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5^th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com