A graveside service for Mr. John Cecil Gillis, age 71, of the Deadwood Community, in Panola County, TX, will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at Deadwood Cemetery with Rev. Mervin Scott officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Mr. Gillis passed away on Friday morning, Sept. 21, 2012, in Carthage.

John Cecil Gillis was born on Nov. 30, 1940, in San Antonio, TX, to John Sidney and Eva Doris Strickland Gillis. He graduated from Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi with the class of 1959, and attended Del Mar College. Mr. Gillis graduated from Texas A&I in Kingsville with a Bachelor's Degree in Music. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force for four years before being honorably discharged. Mr. Gillis earned a Master's Degree in counseling from Texas A&M Prairie View. He taught choir and more recently worked as a guidance counselor until his retirement in 2004. Mr. Gillis also served as the choir director at several churches including Texas City United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Gillis is survived by one sister, Sidna LaGrone of Deadwood; two brothers, James Gillis and wife Marlene of the Woodlands and Joel Gillis of Galveston; nieces and nephews, Jeffrey Gillis and wife Sandy, Gregory Gillis and wife Linda, Shelley Deluna and husband Louis, Kimberly Minchich and husband Matthew, Jennifer Carlson and husband Marc, Clayton G. LaGrone and wife Tami, and Bradley M. LaGrone and wife Debra; and eight great-nieces and nephews.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Deadwood United Methodist Church, Scholarship Fund, c/o Mrs. Reba Coxen, 1678 F.M. 31 South, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.