John Laurence Gilliland

     John Laurence Gilliland, 97, of Georgetown, IL, went home to his Lord and Savior at 9:10am, Friday, November 27, 2020, at Pleasant Meadows Senior Living, Chrisman, IL.  His family would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Pleasant Meadows for their kindness and special care during the time he spent with them.
     John was born to John Wesley and Anna Boyd Gilliland on February 14, 1923, the eighth child of 10 children.  He was raised on a farm northeast of Catlin, IL, attended a rural elementary school, and graduated from Catlin High School in 1942.  He was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps on March 11, 1943, trained as a metalsmith at Navy Pier in Chicago, and was then stationed at the Island of Peleliu in the South Pacific to repair fighter planes during World War II.  He was honorably discharged on November 23, 1945.
     Between his junior and senior years of high school, he worked in the steel mills in Gary, IN, and after high school, he was employed at the C&EI Railroad Shops before entering the military.  After his tour of duty, he was hired by his brother-in-law, Laurence Sacre, at a local coal mine, working there and at another local mine for four years.  He married his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Pate, October 19, 1947, at the Catlin Church of Christ.  They built a house and remained in Catlin for about five years before moving to Georgetown to become a Standard Oil Agent, serving the Georgetown-Ridge Farm area for 20 years.  He then owned and operated a service station in Georgetown before managing the warehouse for his nephew, Marvin Davis, at Mr. Discount Furniture Store.  Upon retirement, he worked part-time at Big R in Tilton, and also sold firewood that he cut from his wooded acreage.
     John’s civic contributions include the Georgetown Fair Board, also maintaining a booth at the same fair while he was a Standard Oil Agent; Georgetown Elementary School Board, which included the building of a new elementary school during his tenure on the board; a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America; helping with Little League; and Vermilion County Housing Authority Board member.
     John was faithful to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, serving as a Sunday School teacher, a deacon, and then as an elder at the Georgetown First Church of Christ, helping with three building projects as the congregation grew.
     John was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jackie Pate Gilliland; his parents; his eight siblings, Mabel (Laurence) Sacree, Marilla Gilliland, Jim (Mildred) Gilliland, Conrad ‘Jimmy’ Gilliland, Gene Gilliland, Grace (Ed) Davis, Mildred (Jim) Rouse, & Audrey (Robert) Baker; and three brothers-in-law, Joe Dow, William ‘Bud’ C. (Helen) Pate, and Robert L. (Alma) Pate.
     He is survived by:  his sister, Dorothy Dow of Memphis, TN; his four children, Joan L. (Joel) Ellis of Enterprise, AL, Raymond E. Gilliland of Greenville, MI, Larry R. (Cindy) Gilliland of Georgetown, IL, & Tom J. Gilliland of Rockwall, TX; his grandchildren, Jane Ann (Wesley) Bolin of Greenville, SC, Mark (Allison Vandever) Wise of Kansas City, MO, Curtis (Samantha) Ellis of Pace, FL, Jacob (Amanda) Ellis of Pelham, AL, Chad (Michelle) Gilliland of Aurora, IL, Lindsay Gross of Zionsville, IN, Ryan (Lindsay) Frohock of St. Augustine, FL, Teresa Gilliland of Rockwall, TX, & Alan Gilliland of Rockwall, TX; and his great grandchildren, Luke, Ethan, Eleanor, Tori, Harrison, Sean, Seth, Tyler, Carter, Mylee, J.P., Waylon, Gatlin, Walker, Landon, & Alaina.
     A celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date.  A private family graveside service will be held at Oakridge Cemetery, Catlin, IL.  His family was assisted by Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Georgetown, Illinois 200 E. West St. Georgetown, Illinois 61846.  Memorial donations may be given in his name to First Church of Christ, 503 N. Main St, Georgetown, IL 61846.  Please join his family in sharing memories through his Tribute Wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.