E.C. Gillem

E.C. Gillem, age 92, died Saturday, January 2 in Baylor Hospital, Dallas, Texas. Funeral services will be held in Greenpond Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.
Officiating will be Brother Loyd Cashion and Brother Dale Ruggles. Kathryn Gillem Haggard will give the eulogy. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be: Tommy Blunt, Larry Blunt, Stephen Gillem, Bruce Lockhart, Bryan Lockhart, Brock Lockhart, Garret Lockhart, and Clif Haggard. Honorary pallbearers will be: Travis Owens, Glen Friddle, Gerald Barnes, Richard Teer, Joe Conley, Austin Blunt, Mason Gillem, Presley Blunt, and Bryson Lockhart.
He was born March 6, 1917 in the Greenpond community, son of Elvie Columbus and Allie Holcomb Gillem. He married Christine Bullock in 1940. She preceded him in death after sixty six years of marriage.
E.C. was a retired dairy farmer who lived in the Star Ridge community. He also raised peanuts, hay, sweet potatoes, and a huge garden every year to feed his young family. After moving to Sulphur Springs in 1998, he continued his gardening on a much smaller scale in the backyard and in and around his flowerbeds.
He served for many years as a deacon for Greenpond Baptist Church and as a Sunday School superintendent. He also served as school trustee for the Como ISD. In recent years his grandchildren and especially his great grandchildren were his chief pleasures.
He is survived by three children: Jerry Don Gillem and wife Judy, of Sulphur Springs; Linda Blunt and husband Luke, of Mesquite; Jeannie Lockhart and husband Bill, of Sulphur Springs.
Seven grandchildren: Tommy Blunt and wife Marcella, of Mesquite; Larry Blunt and wife Morgan, of Rockwall; Stephen Gillem and wife Kimberlea, of Plano; Bruce Lockhart, of Sulphur Springs; Kathryn Haggard and husband Clif, of Austin; Bryan Lockhart and wife Misty, of Grand Prairie; and Brock Lockhart, of Odessa.
Five great grandchildren: Austin Blunt, Garrett Lockhart, Mason Gillem, Bryson Lockhart, and Presley Blunt.
Numerous nieces and nephews survive him.
E.C. was preceded in death by his parents, wife Christine, and three brothers, Loyd Gillem, Voyd Gillem, and Keith Gillem.