Thomas R. Gilliland

TROY- Thomas R. Gilliland of Mt. Pisgah, PA passed away on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at Troy Community Hospital. He was the loving husband of M. Karen (Gooch) Gilliland. The couple married July 2, 1966 and had 46 happy years together. Family and friends are welcome to call from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm on Friday, November 23 at the Gerald W. Vickery, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 1093 West Main Street Troy, PA. The funeral service to honor Tom’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 24, 2012 at the East Troy United Methodist Church, on Route 6 in East Troy with his pastor, Rev. Chris Nauta, officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery. Tom was born on October 3, 1941 in Wellsville, NY, son of the late Raymond and Mary (Cranmer) Gilliland. He was a 1959 graduate of Northern Potter High School and a 1970 graduate of Mansfield University with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Biology. He was a Certified Crop Adviser for the Agway Corporation for 30 years until his retirement in 2000, then he went to work for Cornell Brothers Agway and retired from there in 2008. Tom attended East Troy United Methodist Church, was a Scout Master for Troop #47 in Troy for the Boy Scouts of America, and was a past president of the Troy Youth Football League. Tom’s passion was farming and raising cattle. Tom was Treasurer for the Northern Tier Cattlemen’s Association and was Vice President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Cattlemen’s Association, was a member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Angus Association, and was on the Beef Industry Excellence Council. Tom was a true outdoorsman; he liked to hunt and fish, and was a life member of the NRA. As a true family man Tom could be seen at his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and special activities doting on them because they were the light of his life. Tom enjoyed people; he had a wonderful sense of humor and was always telling stories. He was a friend to all he met and will be remembered and missed by them. His wife Karen, his children, survives Tom: Thomas D. (Amy) Gilliland of Troy, PA, Joan (Frank) Pesko of Kingston, NY, Neil Gilliland and friend Kristen of Troy, and Robert (Traci) Gilliland, also of Troy, his grandchildren: Cameron, Thomas, Chloe, Brendan, Jaylin, and Carlie, his sisters: Sarah Gilliland of Genesee, PA and Martha (Kevin) Risser of Coudersport, PA, his brother John (Kay) Hill of Westfield, PA, along with several nieces and nephews. His parents preceded him in death. Memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s memory to the Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association, c/o Ann Nogan 127 Tompkinsville Road, Scott Township PA 18433 or the East Troy United Methodist Church c/o Beverly Weaver 3439 Mud Creek Road Troy, PA 16947.