James W. Gilliam

James W. Gilliam, 79, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Blairstown, died at home on Sunday, December 22, 2013. A celebration of life will be held 4 - 7 p.m. with a special sharing of memories at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at American Legion Post 170 in Blairstown. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Maybeth; his children, James (Amy Mills) Gilliam of Des Moines, Iowa, Nancy (Richard) Andresen of Wakonda, South Dakota, Joseph (Jodie) Gilliam of Tipton, Iowa, John (Amy VanCleve) Gilliam of Mesa, Arizona, and Jerry (Kelly Galiher) of Iowa City, Iowa; and siblings, Sally (Richard) Acquistapace of Weed, California, and Jeannie (Bob) Barnes of Willows, California. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; four sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; special niece, Cari Vargason Minton; special nephew, Shelby Vargason; many other nieces and nephews; and his 'fishin' buddy', Isaiah Minton. Jim was born January 21, 1934, in Cyril, Oklahoma, the son of Joe D. and Sadie (Wheeler) Gilliam. He graduated from Weed High School in Weed, California in 1951, and enlisted in the US Navy in 1952. He served at Point Mugu Naval Air Station in Oxnard, California, and then aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Lexington. Jim was honorably discharged in 1956. On March 7, 1955, he married Luzerne and Blairstown area native, Mary E. 'Maybeth' Baker in Cypress, California. After his Navy service, he worked for in the oilfields for Standard Oil of California, and then in 1959, he joined the apprenticeship program with the Lathers' Union in California. He moved to Iowa in 1968, and continued his trade as a lather until retiring in 1994. In 1989, he and Maybeth, along with three of their children, formed Professional Wall Builders and later was one of the founding partners in Serrano Drywall Supply Company in Iowa City. He was also a member of the Blairstown American Legion Post 170 and the Carpenters Union Local 166 in the Quad Cities. Jim loved fishing, hunting, and watching and coaching youth baseball. Upon his retirement, his bucket list was to attend a baseball game in every one of the Major League ballparks. Although he did not reach that goal, he was able to visit 23 of them before the old ballparks were torn down and the new ones built. For the past 20 years, Jim and Maybeth spent their winters in Arizona, where he loved the desert and eagerly looked forward to their visit each year. He especially enjoyed showing his children and grandchildren around the state when they would visit. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Charles Davis, Jack Gilliam, and Joe Dee Gilliam; and his mother-in-law, Bernice Baker. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project or a charity of the donor's choice.