Services for James "Jim" Michael Lillard, 69, of Ada will be held Thursday September 22, 2022 at 10 A.M. at the Central Church of Christ.  Pastor Ben Williams will officiate.  The family will receive friends from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Criswell Funeral Home.

Jim passed away Friday morning September 16, 2022 after suffering a sudden cardiac event. At the time of his passing, he was doing what he loved, serving others. Jim was born October 19, 1952 in Denver, Colorado. He was adopted at the age of 5 by Bencie F. Lillard and Edith "Alma" Newell Lillard. He attended school at Stonewall Public Schools where he graduated high school in 1971. After graduation, he worked stocking shelves at a local grocery store before starting a 30+ year career with the Street and Sanitation departments of the City of Ada.

Jim retired in spring of 2013 from the City of Ada.  After retirement he found joy riding his motorcycle and reading or watching Westerns. If he wasn't doing one of those two things, you could probably find him helping a friend with some small project or yard work.

He married his childhood friend Linda Gail Rothell Lillard on March 26, 1988. They spent many years together enjoying traveling to South Padre Island to visit his parents in the winter and finding happiness in the small ordinary things. Together they had one daughter, Jaylea Michelle Lillard Daniel.

Jim was an active member of Central Church of Christ where he volunteered with the yard crew and the Compassion Outreach Center. After his wife's passing in July 2020, Jim continued digging deeper into his faith and finding ways to stay connected at his church where he found a community. Many at his church knew Jim as the "Candy Man" who always was there handing out candy as you came in. If you were lucky enough, he might have even known what your favorite candy was.

Survivors include one daughter Jaylea Daniel and husband Adam, of Edmond.

He was preceded in death by his parents Bencie and Alma Lillard, and wife Linda Lillard.

Bearers will be Bennie Cope, Tom Hendrix, Bill Nelson, Jerry Walker, Jim Wright and Riley Young.  Honorary Pall Bearers will be Allen Butler, Tom Stephens, Ron Taylor, Colin Webb, Ray Tharp, and "The City Boys."