Michael (Mick) Gilliam

Funeral services for Michael Ted (Mick) Gilliam, 69, Peace Valley, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 22, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Willow Springs, Missouri, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Gilliam passed away from this life, into the arms of our Lord at 7:55 a.m., Sunday, October 16, 2022, at his home.

He was born December 18, 1952, in West Plains, Missouri, the son of Theodore Raymond and Jeanette Elizabeth Boss Gilliam. He was united in marriage to Donna Jean Miller on April 24, 1976 in Mountain View, Missouri. To this union two children were born, Theodore Kyle and Brandin Gene. Mick joined the Knights of Columbus as a charter member of Archbishop Fulton Sheen Council No. 7442 in Willow Springs, Missouri in November 1979; and is also a charter member and charter Faithful Navigator of St. John Paul II Assembly 3196 in West Plains. One of Mick's most deep-seated emotions is care and concern for his fellow man, particularly cognizant of his family and many friends. Mick has faithfully served St. Joseph's Catholic Church in White Church, Missouri in many capacities, including as President of its Parish Council and has served the Diocese of Springfield – Cape Girardeau as a member of the Peace and Justice Commission and the Missouri Catholic Conference Public Policy Committee and a Charter Member and later Chairman of the Board of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri. He was appointed as a Supreme Director by the Board of Directors in October, 2010 to fill the unexpired term of retiring Supreme Secretary Donald R. Kehoe; was elected to his first full term by the delegates to the 129th Supreme Convention in Denver, Colorado in 2011; was re-elected for his second term at the 132nd Supreme Convention in Orlando, Florida in 2014; and was re-elected to his third and final term as a member of the Board of Directors during the 135th Supreme Convention in St. Louis, Missouri in 2017. Mick received a BA in Economics from the University of Missouri, Rolla and an MBA from Southwest Missouri State and made his career as a coach, an adult educator and as a fulltime farmer – his first love – the family farm. Mick and Donna preferred the byways to the flyways, the country roads to the airports, two lane roads to the tarmac with Donna driving and Mick navigating as they saw much of our nation on their way to and from Knights of Columbus meetings.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Jean, of the family home; one son, Brandin Gilliam and wife, Tara, Peace Valley, Missouri; four grandchildren, Zepplyn, Jethro, Jopplin and Creedence, all of Peace Valley; one sister, Rita Fugate, Kansas City, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Karen Gilliam, West Plains; one brother-in-law, Roy Jones, Springfield, Missouri; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

His parents, one son, Theodore Kyle, three siblings, John Gilliam, Karen Jones and Dennis Gilliam, one sister-in-law, Lula Gilliam and one brother-in-law, Royce Fugate, preceded him in death.

Visitation services will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will be in the Howell Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Knights of Columbus (Developmental Center at Cardinal Glennon, St. Louis) and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775. Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertsondrago.com