A celebration of life service for Lula Belle "Lu" Gilliam, 77, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 13, 2015, at the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Gilliam died at 3:04 a.m., Wednesday, June 10, 2015, at NHC Healthcare.
She was born February 4, 1938, at Supply, Arkansas, to Claude Mae Stephens and Vergie Lee McClure Stephens. On December 8, 1956, she was married at Mountain View, Missouri, to her high school sweetheart, John Eldon Gilliam who preceded her in death on February 2, 2012. Mrs. Gilliam retired from West Plains R-7 Schools after working for thirty years as a bus driver. She had a passion for her family and spent a lot of time at her kids sporting events. Lu enjoyed playing pitch with her friends, spending time at the lake, golfing with John and traveling, especially to the beach.
She is survived by three sons, Craig Gilliam, wife, Carlissa, , Park City, Utah, Chris Gilliam, wife, Denisea, West Plains, Missouri and Curt Gilliam, wife, Kim, Nixa, Missouri; six grandchildren, Chelsea Gilliam, husband, Josh Brown, Ozark, Missouri, Kennedy and Case Gilliam, Nixa, Missouri, Michael King, Thayer, Missouri, Ryan King and wife, Kayly, Thayer, Missouri and Ashley Harris, Springfield, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Carlisle and Adeline Gilliam-Brown, Braxton, Braigon and Brennan King; two brothers, Ed Stephens, wife, Joan, Highlandville, Missouri and Ken Stephens, wife, Marsh, Merrillville, Indiana; one sister, Earline Taylor, husband, Jim, Nixa, Missouri; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Royce Fugate, wife, Rita, West Plains, Missouri, Karen Jones, husband, Roy, Gainesville, Missouri, Mick Gilliam, wife, Donna, Peace Valley, Missouri and Karen Gilliam, West Plains, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.
Her parents, husband, two brothers, Bunk and Pete and four sisters, Neomia, Virginia, Melveta and Anita, precede her in death.
Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery Cemetery followed by a reception for friends and family in the Weatherford Room at the Opera House. Memorial Contributions may be made to Bridges Program or Ozarks Medical Center Cancer Treatment Expansion and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. The family would like to thank Dr. Morgan and his staff and the staff at NHC Healthcare for their love and care.