Bill Silliman

Bill Silliman, son of the late William Ray Silliman and Agnes Martha Harris Silliman, was born on Jan. 3, 1933 at Essex and died in his residence near Dexter on March 19, 2009 at the age of 76.

Mr. Silliman was of the Baptist faith, a retired farmer, businessman, a board member of the Chalk Bluff Cemetery, on the Ozark Border Electric Co-Operative Board of Directors for 15 years and a member of the Dexter Elks Lodge #2439.

He was united in marriage to Violet Norman on Oct. 25, 1952 at Piggott, Ark. Mrs. Silliman survives of the home near Dexter.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, Randy Len Silliman of Powe, Darrell Ray Silliman of Oakland, Tenn. and Dr. W. Ray Silliman of Jackson: by one daughter, Karen Dawson of Cape Girardeau: by four sisters, Betty Gene Myers of Arnold, Beverly Durham of St. Louis, Verttle Lee Adams and Peggy Bollinger, both of Dexter: by eight grandchildren, Heath Silliman, Cade Silliman, Chad Silliman, Tracy Botsch, Jessica Hylton, Carsen Drew Silliman, Emma Silliman and Billy Dawson: by five great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, J. W. Silliman.

Visitation will take place after 4 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Dexter. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2009 in the First Baptist Church with Rev. Kenneth Lambert, Dr. Steve Easterwood and Bradley Botsch officiating. Interment will follow in the Chalk Bluff Cemetery near Dexter.

Memorials may be made to the 18 Fore Life, Stoddard County Children's Home or to the Legacy Hospice. Envelopes will be made available by the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home.