Person:James Gililland (1)

OBIT

J.R. Gililland, age 90, passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at Plantation Villages, Altus, Oklahoma. He was born to William and Minnie Gililland in Durant, Oklahoma, on August 8, 1914, he was the youngest of seven. He graduated from high school in Sickles, Oklahoma and went on scholarship to get his bachelors degree and teaching certificate at Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He received his Southwestern athletic letters in football and baseball. He later gained his Masters Degree in School Administration at Oklahoma A&M University (OSU) in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

J.R married Sarena Lucille Cates of Weatherford, Oklahoma in 1941. With the exception of a brief tour in the California Ship Yards during World War II, J.R spent his professional career as a longtime teacher and school administrator in Oklahoma. His teaching career began in Erick, Oklahoma as grade school principal and coach. In 1944 he was named Superintendent of Highway School south of Elk City. He later held Superintendent positions at Merritt, Sulphur, Muskogee and Clinton. In 1968, J R was named Superintendent of the Canadian Valley Area Oklahoma Vocational-Technical School in El Reno, where he retired in 1979.

J.R. really enjoyed his basketball coaching days at the Highway School, during the 1940’s, silk uniformed boys and girls basketball was taken very seriously in Beckham county much as it is today. **J.R. loved to talk about his basketball players and students that meant so much to him and his teaching partner Sarena. He was a member of the Elk City Masonic lodge #182, and reached the degree of master mason.

He was preceded in death by his wife Sarena, of 63 years, and three brothers, Herman, Floyd, Bill, and three sisters, Jimmie, Belma and Ruth.

J.R is survived by his three sons, Roger Gililland and wife Jean Ann of McLean,Virginia., Bruce Gililland of San Jose, California. and Mark Gililland and wife Jan of Altus, Oklahoma, eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, family and students that will miss him always.

Services will be held Monday, July 11, 2005, at 10:00 am at the Wesley Uni ted Methodist Church in El Reno, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at the El Reno Cemetery in El Reno, Oklahoma. Under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.

Online tributes can be made to the family of J.R. Gililland at www.lowell-tims.com [1] Memorials can be made to St. Jude children hospital or the charity of your choice.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} James Roger Wadkins “J R” Gililland, in Find A Grave.