Richard L. Gilliam

Richard L. Gilliam, age 73, of Creal Springs, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 in the Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

He was born May 25, 1939 to William and Louis (Pierce) Gilliam in Du Quoin.

He married Mary Frances Mercer on Jan. 3, 1959.

Richard proudly served his country as a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy for over 20 years.

He worked at the Veteran's Medical Center as a maintenance foreman for 11 years. He donated a lot of his time for the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children. He loved coin collecting and woodworking.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Gilliam of Creal Springs; a son, Richard Gilliam of Ava; two daughters, Juli (Ed) Roznowski of Du Quoin and Susan (Patrick) Lockhart of Creal Springs; grandchildren, Kevin, Kris, Kory, Richard, Alex, Christian and Elizabeth; great-grandchildren, Alexis, Cameron, Jayson and Addison; two sisters, Sherry Dunn of Du Quoin and Janet Mydler of Pinckneyville; nieces; nephews and other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William Gilliam.

A Memorial Service for Richard L. Gilliam will be held at the Crain Funeral Home Egyptian Chapel in Energy at a later date with Glenn Poshard doing the eulogy. Inurnment will be in the Egyptian Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.

Memorials can be made to the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children and/or St. Francis Animal Shelter and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To leave online condolences please visit www.crainsonline.com.