Donald Ray Gilliam

Donald R. Gilliam, 76, of Athens passed away December 3, 2017 at the Life Care Center of Athens. He was born in Hermiston, OR to Ellis and Mildred Gilliam and has resided in Tennessee since 2007 coming from Effort, Pennsylvania. He served honorably in the United States Army in the early 1960's. He enjoyed fishing, poetry writing, reading western books, landscaping and gardening. He was a Baptist by faith.

In addition to his parents, Donald was preceded in death by two sisters, Joyce Williams and Barbara Worthington; three brothers, Ellis C. Gilliam, Herbert Owen Gilliam and Royce E. Gilliam; and the mother of his children, Susan Gilliam.

Survivors include his sons, Nathan and Paul Gilliam and a daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Eric Miller, all of Pennsylvania; three brothers, Kenneth Gilliam of Decatur, William Gilliam and wife Darlene of Florida, and David A. Gilliam of Decatur; two sisters, Evelyn C. Gilliam of Decatur and Doris Poland of Rockwood; six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Bowers Funeral Home in Decatur on Thursday, December 7, 2017 from 5pm to 7pm. The funeral service will begin at 7pm with Pastor Jamey Davis officiating. Internment with military honors will be on Friday, December 8, 2017 at 1pm in Lenoir City Cemetery in Lenoir City.