Edwin Gilliam

Services for Edwin (Ed) Earl Gilliam, 84, of Cleburne, will be conducted at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, August 22, at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel in Cleburne, Texas. Visitation will be 6-8:00 P.M., Friday, August 21, 2020 at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home in Cleburne, Texas. Pallbearers will be Dr. Mark Miller, Stan McVey, Toby Cox, Ernest Clark, Rodney Carlock and Dr. Ronnie Collins. Honorary pallbearers will be David Trammel, Dennis Bryant, Keith Come and Chris Barnard.
Edwin (Ed) Earl Gilliam passed away peacefully in Ft. Worth, TX on August 17, 2020. He was born on October 23, 1935 in Bono, TX to Herman Aubrey Gilliam and Velma Pauline Gray Gilliam. He married Barbara June Vidler on April 13, 1963 in Pecos, TX.
Ed graduated from Cleburne High School in 1954 and joined the United States Air Force. During his military duty, he traveled extensively throughout Europe while being stationed in Tulle, France. After an honorable discharge, he joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and started on the pro rodeo circuit. After several injuries, he decided to attend college on the GI Bill and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Tech University as well as a Master’s Degree from Texas A&M University – Commerce.
After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree, he worked in Pecos, TX in the agricultural industry. He met his bride-to-be through a blind date while back visiting in his hometown of Cleburne, TX. He and Barbara maintained a long-distance relationship for 4 months prior to their marriage.
Ed began a professional teaching career as an agriculture teacher in 1963 in Slaton, TX. He and Barbara moved back to Cleburne in 1966 when he got a teaching job at Itasca High School in 1966 and then Joshua High School in 1969 where he taught Agriculture Education and Mechanics. Ed retired from teaching in 1995. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association of Texas.
Ed accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age and was baptized in the Brazos River where he then joined the Lebanon Baptist Church in Cleburne. At his death, he was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church in Cleburne.
Ed is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara, his daughter Deanna Gilliam of Kennedale, his son, Jayson Gilliam and wife Tammy of Frisco; grandchildren, Madison Gilliam and Morgan Gilliam, sister-in-law, Kim Vidler Radecki and husband Joseph Radecki; and nephew, Jared Radecki.
Ed is preceded in death by his father and mother.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Joshua FFA Alumni Association Ed Gilliam Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The funeral service will be live streamed on YouTube by searching Crosier-Pearson Cleburne.