Freestone County, Texas
Obits


Houston Chronicle newspaper - Friday 10/10/2003 edition


GILLIAM

JAMES BERNARD GILLIAM, 82, died Wednesday, October 8. He is survived by one
brother and his wife, Joe Eddie and Betty Gilliam of Edinburg, Texas; three
daughters and their spouses: Brenda and Bill Maust, Wanda Jo and Ray Rayon, 
and Rita Gail and Donald Anders; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren
. Survivors include two sisters-in-law and their husbands, Nell and Lawrie 
LaPierre of New Braunfels and Margaret and Bob Cooper of Sarasota, as well as
nieces and nephews in Texas, California, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. 

James was born July 21, 1921, to Bernard and Sallie Mae Gilliam, in Teague,
Texas. He married his first-grade sweetheart, Elsie Clytee Wren, in 1939. He 
was predeceased by his wife; a granddaughter, Mary Meglyn Smith, and a great-
grandson, Benjamin Rickerl. James served his country proudly during World War
II, as a PFC in the 102nd Infantry Division (the Ozarks), receiving two Bronze
Stars and other honors. After returning from Europe, he moved his family to 
Houston and joined American Can Company, where he worked for 30 years. 

James had many interests: he was a voracious reader, a numismatist, and a rock
hound who spent many happy years digging for tektites near Bedias. Like many
men of his generation, he was a hard worker who only learned to relax when his
grandchildren came along. James spent the last few months of his life making 
new friends in a local continuing care center. 

The family will receive visitors at Crowder Funeral Home in Webster on Friday,
Oct. 10, from 6-8:30 p.m. A second visitation and burial services will be held 
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Union Cemetery near Teague, from 1-2 p.m., followed by 
graveside services. 

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Houston Chronicle newspaper - Thursday 10/09/2003 edition

JAMES BERNARD GILLIAM, 82, passed away on Wednesday, October 8, 2003 in
Pasadena, Texas. 

A visitation will begin on Friday, October 11, 2003 from 6-8:30 P.M. at 
Crowder Funeral Home Chapel, Webster, Texas. A visitation will follow on 
Saturday, from 1-2:00 P.M. at Union Cemetery Chapel with a grave side service 
at 2:15 P.M. at Union Cemetery in Teague, Texas.