Paul Wesley Gilliam, Jr. finished his journey here on January the 7th, 2021. In many ways, he was the personification of the American Dream. He and his father-in-law, Sam Duncan, built a successful home building business, he traveled the world, owned award winning cars and a race team that went over 250 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats. By any measure the world can use, Paul Gilliam was a success.
But that’s not his true legacy. That’s family. It started with being a son to Annie Fletcher and Paul, Sr., and big brother to his sister JoAnn and brother Jimmy. His next success was his success on earth: the almost 59 years he was married to the love of his life, Betty. They set a standard for living and loving together that will stand for generations to come. His success is found in overcoming the death of his beloved first son, Kirk, and in the three children he and Betty chose and raised, Jeff, Heath and Lisa. He also welcomed in additions to the family: Rhonda, a bride for Jeff, and Hunter, Lisa’s husband, and they became his kids as well. He taught us all how to truly live, how to find joy in the highs and the lows, and how to raise the next branches of the Gilliam family tree. And he was there for the next generation; Christian, Ryne, Duncan, Fisher and Colin. Each can tell stories of his wisdom and abundance and love and the foundation and example he gave for each of their lives. Sometimes, it was just in his presence, at ballgames and plays and graduations and births, sitting by with a huge grin on his face. Other times, it was advice or a helping hand. Whatever was required, Paul was there.
His success in this life is also found around the world. You see it in the smile that stretches across people’s faces when you mention his name. Every one has a story of his kindness, or his sense of humor. They’ll tell you he may have just met them, but they felt like he had known them for life. He couldn’t walk past a child without an attempt to get a wave or a smile. He was just a man who brought joy to people. It was his greatest gift and passion in life, and he spread it from one end of this earth to the other.
Today, Paul lives forever in perfection, free of pain or worry. That’s because of his greatest success of all; accepting a gift. Paul accepted Jesus Christ as His Savior and Lord, and received the gift of being in God’s family forever. And there he waits, spreading smiles across the heavenly host. God bless him.
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