ADA-Services for LaDonna (Tootsie) Gale Welch Gilliam, 65, of Ada, are 2:00 p.m. Monday at Trinity Baptist Church, Rev. David Gray will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Gilliam died Thursday, May 9, 2013 at an Oklahoma City hospital. She was born October 3, 1947 to Clyde and Marie Northam Welch. She grew up in the Oil Center community and graduated from Vanoss High School in 1964 at the age of 16. She immediately pursued a college degree in education. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1968, a Master of Science in Education in 1977, and a Master of Science in Human Services in 1985. She was a member of Mensa, a high IQ society.
She married George Michael Gilliam on June 10, 1966. Mrs. Gilliam was an educator, counselor, mentor and more. She taught 2nd grade at Justice Elementary School and then kindergarten at Vanoss. She was a stay-at-home mom until 1985 and then she began a career that lasted 27 years at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services where she retired June 30, 2011.
Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Mike Gilliam, of the home; son, Kent Gilliam and his wife Maggie and their two children Aaron and Natalie of Dallas, TX; her son, Kurt Gilliam and his wife Misty and their four children Kase, Kyler, Noah and Tanner of Ada; her daughter, Kory Lewis and her husband Cameron of Oklahoma City; and her brother, George Welch of Oil Center.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clyde and Marie Welch and a brother, Clyde Welch Jr.
Bearers will be Kenny Arthur, Jimmy Haskins, Monte Law, Joe Lee Walker, Lonnie Roy Manuel and Clint Welch. Honorary bearers will be the Henry Boys: Daren, Steve and Brent.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada