Michael Ted (Mick) Gilliam
Michael Ted (Mick) Gilliam
Funeral services for Michael Ted (Mick) Gilliam, 69, Peace Valley, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 22, 2022 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.
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. 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, Missouri. He served as Grand Knight and multiple positions throughout his local council. He progressed thru the State Council chairs to become the Missouri State Deputy in 2006-2008, and continued to serve as the 4th degree District Master of Missouri from 2010-2012. Mick 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, Terra, Peace Valley, Missouri; four grandchildren, Zepplyn, Jethro, Jopplyn 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.
Teresa Eldringhoff romans
October 17, 2022 @ 4:31 pm
Donna and family…..my heart hurts for you all but rejoices for Mick. May God wrap his arms around you with love and peace.
Jean Stewart
October 17, 2022 @ 4:32 pm
My prayers for Mick’s family. He was a special person that had many, many friends that were so privileged to be able to count him as their friend. He will be missed and mourned as a classmate and longtime leader in this community. RIP Mick, we will see you again.
Serena Kilkenny Speaker
October 17, 2022 @ 5:52 pm
I went to school with Mick from grade school through high school. What an incredible man with his service to his church and other service organizations. Praying for all family members for peace and comfort.
Louis Holtmann
October 17, 2022 @ 6:03 pm
To my dear friend and mentor thanks for all you guidance and friendship thru the years. May you rest in God’s arms good and faithful servant. Our thanks to you and your wife Donna that has been instrumental in in your journey in life and to the Knights of Columbus. You will be forever missed. Prayers are with your family.
Lou Holtmann
October 17, 2022 @ 6:36 pm
My dear friend and mentor May you rest in the Lord’s hands good and faithful servant. We pray for your sole. You will be forever missed by me and so many others. To Your dear Wife Donna thank you for your faithfulness to Mick and the best driver he could ever have. Your steadfast love to Mick and his service to the Knights of Columbus through all his achievements you were by his side. Our prayers for you and the family will be on going. Blessings
Lynn Kasper
October 17, 2022 @ 10:05 pm
Donna, You are in our prayers. John and I truly loved the association we had with Mick and you when John served as Vice-Supreme Master. Your friendship will always be remembered. Please remember the fun we had in Branson when the men had the waitress convinced Mick was Terry Bradshaw. John never tired of telling that story. Lynn Kasper, Kansas
John L. (Larry) Widel
October 18, 2022 @ 2:23 pm
Donna and Family,
Mick was a very SPECIAL MAN, HUSBAND, FATHER, GRAND
FATHER AND MORE. He will be sadly missed by so many. I was
so Blessed to be a small part of his life when Ralph Bolzenius
and I went to see him and asked him to join the Knights. And
help start a new Council. He was also a very dear Friend.
Donna I want to say THANKS for letting him be a part of the
Knights of Columbus. WE can say He was a TRUE Knight in
every way. Rest in Peace My Friend
Gary L Marquart--Washington, Missouri
October 18, 2022 @ 5:30 pm
My sympathy to the family. I knew Mick thru the Knights of Columbus when I was a District Deputy.
Always smiling, always friendly, always willing to go the extra mile. He was a true leader in the Catholic community.
Amber(Cozort)Redburn
October 18, 2022 @ 7:43 pm
Mrs. Donna Gilliam/Families, and the Gilliam Families,
We are keeping all of you in our daily prayers and thoughts upon the loss of Mick. Our Deepest Sympathy to all of you at this time. May God comfort, encourage, strengthen, and give each of you peace. May God bless all of you.
In Christian Love,
Norris/Ivene Cozort
Amber(Cozort)Redburn
Gloria Campbell
October 19, 2022 @ 8:43 am
sorry for your lost we all went to the same schools he will be deeply missed
Bruce Edgeller
October 19, 2022 @ 8:13 pm
Donna, Brandon and family. I am shocked and deeply saddened by Micks death. I’ve known Mick since high school years and also known his whole family for many years. Mick has been a good friend as well as a good customer of mine. His word meant something. I’ve known him to always be a true Christian and a devoted Catholic. It won’t be the same without him at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. I know words can’t express the hurt you are feeling now and my heart and prayers go out to you and your family. He will be greatly missed. Rest In Peace Mick I know you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Edward Spence
October 20, 2022 @ 12:29 pm
My prayers and thoughts for the family. Mick was the reason I be came quite busy in the Knights, he asked me to take the position of DD and that was my start in the Knights for 23 to 24 years on the Knights, the best years of my life because of Mick. Thanks Mick !
Jacob Smith
October 21, 2022 @ 12:07 pm
Donna and Brandin, I am so sorry for your loss. The Gilliam family has always been like an extension of my family. The connection was real on many levels and Kyle was one of my first good friends. Your family farms were conveniently located next door to the Smith family farms, Mick was my first baseball coach, and the list goes on and on. I remember being introduced to satellite tv for the first time in your basement (what a novel idea to have more than three channels without having to move the rabbit ears around). It was an all down hill bike ride to your house, until that last steep hill on the gravel road, but worth the ride to hang out with the Gilliam boys. We got to play sports in the yard, listen to some of Mick’s music (Huey Lewis and the News comes to mind), and even shoot a shotgun on occasion (I think I remember a 12 gauge kick knocking Brandin or Kyle right to the ground once).
Even though I have been out of Peace Valley for more many years I still feel like we are family. Mick was a great man, great coach, great story teller, and a pillar of whatever community he was a part of. I will miss knowing that he is just down the road from Dad’s place, raising cattle and making the world around him a better place. When Kyle passed we spoke of the “Escape of the Great Gilliam Grin” but I know that Grin was learned from His dad, Mick, who had that same look when he was ready to tell a punch line or the best part of a story. I am forever thankful that a strong Christian man like Mick invested time in my childhood and upbringing.
In this difficult time I prayer Numbers 6:24-26 over your family. “The Lord bless thee, and keep the: The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift of his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Love You Guys!
Kurt Sommerhauser
October 21, 2022 @ 8:20 pm
Mick had the uncanny ability to instantly recall the names of everyone he ever met — at least it seemed that way.
I’ll always remember Mick’s moving banquet speeches with the Knights and his special tribute to PSD Bill Boitnott. Lots of good memories are flooding back now.
My prayers and best wishes to Donna and family.
Kevin Hudnut
October 22, 2022 @ 8:45 pm
Donna, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it down for the funeral, but know that you, the family, and Mick are in my prayers today. Mick was an amazing man who always greeted me with a smile, and often a big hug. He always asked how my wife was doing, by name (met her twice I think), and always took an interest in my kids. He was a mentor to me and many, and I’ll always be grateful for the potential he saw in me as a person. You will be missed my friend and my Brother!!
Romeo Barrera
October 24, 2022 @ 12:28 am
Donna, so very sorry to hear about Mick. One of the friendliest and nicest person I have had the pleasure of knowing. Jean-Ann and I are praying for you and your family. May God bless you and give you strength.
Ken Dudzik
October 30, 2022 @ 11:54 pm
Donna, I’m very sorry that I was not able to personally say goodbye to a wonderful man who always had a smile and the time to greet fellow Knights and make them feel so very happy to visit with him. I had the pleasure of riding alone with him from Monett to Joplin and I enjoyed every minute of it. He made me feel like a lifelong friend and I will never forget it. May God bless you, your family and that wonderful guy Mick.
Knights of Columbus #8920
October 31, 2022 @ 7:56 am
The Knights of Columbus #8920, Cuba, send our sincere condolences.