Douglas Neal Gilliam

Mr. Douglas Neal Gilliam

Mr. Douglas Neal Gilliam, 56, of Blytheville, passed away peacefully, on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 sitting in his favorite chair at home. He was born in Blytheville on July 22, 1960 to Clyde Arnold Gilliam and Eula Jane Defer Gilliam. He was a graduate of Dell High School. Neal worked for Thompson Services, a contractor for Nucor-Yamato Steel. He was a hard worker, and work was a priority with him.

His sisters recall how, as a child, he taught them to bat bumblebees in the barn, and how to climb up to the roof of the barn and slide down. He really liked rocking chairs, and would rock in any chair, whether it was a rocker or not.

He loved to go duck hunting with his son, and he was proud of the special gun that Jeff bought him. He also liked to fish. Neal hated to be late for anything, but one time he was late and missed the birth of his daughter…he was fishing. He enjoyed working in the yard which he kept meticulously. His mantra was “What are we going to eat?” He loved food, especially breakfast, and he enjoyed it, no matter what it was. The family says that Hardee’s and McDonald’s will miss him. KFC was also a favorite.

He loved his grandchildren, and was very patient with them. He bought a John Deer tractor with a trailer behind it for Samantha to ride in. He teased Kayleigh and called her his “preschool dropout.”

His daughters recall how he took back roads to avoid getting caught without a seat belt because it was stuck and he couldn’t get it undone. They remember him sitting in his recliner with a remote in his hand, and drinking coffee. He was a loving, simple man who had a dry sense of humor. He was always making people laugh, and he tried to make everybody happy in his own way.

He enjoyed spending time with his grand-pups, Cesar, whom he called “two ton” because he liked to sit on Neal’s foot and Neal said he felt like he weighed two tons, and Romeo whom he called “Killer Karl.”

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Edward Gilliam.

He is survived by one son, one son, Jeff Gilliam, (and Hilary) of Gosnell;

Daughters, Brandi (and fiancé Chris Brawley) of Southaven, Mississippi, Nicole Deem of Safford, Arizona, Victoria Kellems (and Chris) of Steele, Missouri, and Angel Raper, of Port Orange, Florida;

Companion of 14 years, Patricia Raper, of Blytheville, Arkansas;

Four grandchildren, Samantha Brawley of Southaven, Mississippi and Brandon Kellems, Lawson Manz, and Kayleigh Kellems, all of Steele, Missouri;

Three sisters, Betty Horton (and Phil) and Bobbie Coyle (and David Jayne) of Blue Springs, Mississippi and Michelle Cole (and Jim) of Jonesboro;

His two “grand-pups”, Cesar and Romeo; and

A host of friends and loved ones.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday evening at Carney Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at Carney Funeral Home at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2017. Rev. Mitchell King will officiate. Burial will follow at Cornersville Cemetery in Potts Camp, Mississippi.

Condolences may be offered at www.carneyfuneralhome.com