Donald Wayne Gillham, 101, of Harrison, formerly of Grand Island, Nebraska, was called to heaven on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Hillcrest Home in Harrison.

Wayne was born on July 2, 1923, on a farm in Greeley County, Nebraska, to George L. and Lucretia Crumrine Gillham.  When he was young his family moved to Wolbach, Nebraska, where he graduated from the Wolbach Public Schools in 1941.  In 1947, he married Lorraine Ella Allen and they made their home in St. Paul, Nebraska, where he was employed by the Toledo Scale Company.  In 1951 they moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, where he was employed at the Cornhusker Ordinance Plant until 1956.  From there he became district distributor for the Toledo Scale Company.  In 1971, he was a sales representative for the Hobart Corporation and worked there until his retirement on July 1, 1984.  In 2010 he moved to Harrison, where he resided until his death.  Wayne always had a smile on his face and he loved to visit, he never knew a stranger.  At 85 years of age, he made a decision to follow Jesus and was later baptized.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Valley Springs and was also a diehard Kansas City Royals fan.  Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 44 years, Lorraine; two brothers, Harold and Joe Gillham; and two nephews, Duane and Jim Gillham.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Pat and Don Williams of Harrison; his grandchildren, Erin Richardson and her husband, James Wright of Harrison, Christi Martin and her husband, Colby Forrester of Owasso, Oklahoma, and Donna Sherrill and her husband, Tony, of Russellville; his great-grandchildren, Tyler Sherrill of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Brooke Graham and her husband, Brandon, of Atkins, Amanda Martin and her fiancé, John Viehmann, of Bentonville, and Cody Martin of Springdale; his great-great-grandchildren, Kacer, Karmyn, and Kash Graham; two nieces and their families, Marlene Kosmicki of St. Paul, Nebraska and Jodi Gillham of Wickenburg, Arizona; and other relatives and friends.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Holt Memorial Chapel with Bro. Rick Posey officiating.  Burial will be private in Westlawn Memorial Park in Grand Island, Nebraska.  Arrangements are under the direction of Holt Memorial Chapel.

Pallbearers will be Tony Sherrill, Colby Forrester, James Wright, Tyler Sherrill, Brandon Graham, John Viehmann, and Cody Martin.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Valley Springs Building Fund, Post Office Box 97, Valley Springs, Arkansas  72682 or Gideons International, Post Office Box 997, Harrison, Arkansas  72601.

The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.HoltChapel.com.

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