Walter Guilliams

Walter Berrel Guilliams, 81, of Jackson passed away Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 12, 1933, in Doniphan, Missouri, to Marvin B. and Joy Hunt Guilliams. He and Ruth Ann Sander were married June 6, 1958, at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson.

Walt was raised in Doniphan and was a 1952 graduate of Doniphan High School. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving honorably from August 1953 to August 1957. After leaving the military, he was employed by the former McDonnell Douglas and Martin Marietta Corp. in St. Louis. In 1967, he went to work as an insurance adjuster for Pacific Insurance in St. Louis. In 1970, he relocated to Dexter, Missouri, working for Farmers Insurance Group. He later joined Shelter Insurance Co., which eventually led the family to Jackson in 1981. He retired from Shelter in 1986 due to declining health.

Walt enjoyed coaching his five sons in numerous youth sport leagues and was a passionate supporter of all the activities of his sons and grandchildren -- always their No. 1 fan! A more proud, involved and devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather could not be found.

He was a former member of First Christian Church in Dexter and current member of Shawnee Hills Baptist Church in Jackson, serving many years as a deacon and on other various committees. He was a former member and past worshipful master of the Masonic Lodge in Dexter and a current member of Excelsior Masonic Lodge 441 in Jackson.

Loving survivors include his wife of 56 years, Ruth Guilliams of Jackson; four sons, Greg (Michelle) Guilliams of Freeport, Illinois, Rick (Christi) Guilliams of Jackson, Roger (Libby) Guilliams of Whitewater and Shane Guilliams (partner, Charles Miller) of Phoenix; five grandchildren, Caleb Guilliams of Cape Girardeau, Rebecca (Curt) Kuehn of Jackson, Megan Guilliams of Versailles, Kentucky, and Jeffery and Danny Guilliams of Freeport; three great-grandchildren, Avery, McKinzey and Maverick Kuehn of Jackson; three brothers, identical twin George Jerrel (Pat) Guilliams Sr. of Perryville, Missouri, Lonnie (the late Judy) Guilliams of Puxico, Missouri, and Donnie (Valerie) Guilliams of Wichita, Kansas; two sisters, Marvine (the late Glen) Joplin of Doniphan and Mackie (Don) Harper of Bloomfield, Missouri; sister-in-law, Charlene Guilliams of Pearland, Texas; former daughter-in-law, Danielle Kenty Chekaraou of Windhoek, Namibia, Africa; and several beloved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends he dearly loved.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Jeffery Guilliams, in 1994; his parents; two brothers, Edward (Joyce) Guilliams and Barney Guilliams; and stepfather, Eddie Rush.

Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Don Estes officiating.

Burial will be at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorial contributions to Shawnee Hills Baptist Church in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.