Obituary for Ambrose “Junior” Gilliland

Junior Gilliland

July 6, 1936 – October 5, 2021

Ambrose Junior Gilliland, 85 of Ponca City, OK passed away on October 5th, 2021 at home with his family by his side. A Funeral Ceremony will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, October 11, 2021, at Central Baptist Church, with Brother Lynn Schuyler officiating. Face masks are suggested. There will be a private burial for family only. Viewing will be Saturday, October 9, 2021, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Sunday, October 10, 2021, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Trout Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will greet friends on Saturday between 4:00 and 6:00 PM. Face masks are required.

Junior was born to John Ambrose and Lula Martin Gilliland on July 6th, 1936 at the family farm North West of Pawnee, OK. He attended three country schools: Oak Grove, Ralston, and graduated from Pawnee High School in 1955. He married his high school sweetheart, Delores Marie Tull, on May 21st, 1955 and enjoyed 66 years of marriage. They were blessed with 4 children Jeanie Smith, Peggy Stracener, Mike Gilliland, and Mark Gilliland.

In Junior’s younger years he had several different jobs including carpentry, which included helping build Shangri-La on Grand Lake. He then moved to Ponca City and started working for Jim Chittum at his Gun & Lock shop. After 5 years of working with Jim and learning the business, he purchased the business and moved it to 1st and Grand where Junior’s Gun and Lock was created. He retired from Junior’s after 20 years of working and sold the business to his two sons Mike and Mark. When Junior was young he was an avid trap shooter, and won two state championships. He taught the youth about gun safety at the rifle and pistol club. Junior was an Ambucs club member, helping build the motorcross track. Junior and Delores retired at age 53 and enjoyed traveling the country and later on joined the “Good Sam’s Camping Club”. After just two years of membership junior was elected State Director and held that office for the next four years. Junior and Delores attended over 200 samboree’s all over the United States and won over 220 patches playing various games. Junior says “I’m a very good Dominoes player”.

He is survived by: his wife of 66 years, Delores Gilliland; children, Jeanie Smith and husband, Danny, Peggy Stracener and husband, Tony, Mike Gilliland and wife, Deanna, and Mark Gilliland; grandchildren, Jerrod Smith and wife, Nikki, Casey Smith and wife, Sara, Jason Sinnes and Kim, Tyler Stracener, Dominique Le and husband, Viet, Courtney McPherson and husband, Charles, Bailey Gilliland, Daylan Gilliland and 15 great grandchildren.

Junior was preceded in death by parents, John and Lula Gilliland; brother, Gilbert Gilliland, and sister, Eathel Lee and husband, Donald Cartmell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601 or Central Baptist Church, 1732 E. Coleman Rd, Ponca City, OK 74604. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home