Ernest E. “Ern” Gilliland

By | February 2, 2013

Ernest E. “Ern” Gilliland, age 81, peacefully went to meet the eyes of Jesus January 31, 2013. He was born February 21, 1931 in Jackson, Ohio to the late George Bowens and Melvina Gilliland-Smith. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, cousin and friend to many. He was a former employee of the Globe Furnace, a corrections officer for CCI, owned and operated Gilliland Coal & Wood. He retired from Southern Ohio Coal Company and was a veteran of the Korean War. Ern was an avid Buckeye and Ironman fan and enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.

He is survived by: Mollie Gilliland; children: Eugene (Melissa) Gilliland, John (Teri) Gilliland, Martha (Dave) Hammond and Jennie (Mike) Meacham; daughter-in-law: Connie May; grandchildren: Christy Barnhill, Bobbie Jo May-Swann, Kim (Jeremy) Witt, Mandy (Kris) Coughenour, Judd (Lindsay) Meacham, Dusty Gilliland, Sara (Josh) Moon, Brandon Gilliland and Olivia Grace Gilliland; great-grandchildren: Derek and Devin Barnhill, Jacob and Ella Swann, Brady Witt, Madeline Coughenour, Jarrett and Baylee Meacham, Brenton and Emma Moon and Kaley McKenna Gilliland.

Also surviving are two special cousins and lifelong friends, Ernestine Exline of Columbus, Ohio and James and Mary Delong of Lancaster, Ohio; stepchildren: Carolyn (Jim) Adams, Paul Haddox, Melinda Adkins, Melissa and James Hicholson, Carl (Patricia) Haddox, Sheryl Edwards and Roger (Mindy) Haddox.

He was preceded in death by his parents, loving wife of 42 years, Jennie Ruth Gilliland; son: Sheldon “Bob” May; great-grandson, Waylon Kristopher Coughenour and lifelong friend, Shelva Gilliland.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 4, 2013 at the Mayhew-Brown Funeral Home with Rev. Tim Case officiating and burial to follow in the Exline Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Waylon Coughenour Memorial Scholarship Fund: Atomic Credit Union, 711 Beavercreek Road, Piketon, Ohio 45661. Condolences may be emailed to www.mayhewbrown funeralhome.com