Allen Ray Gilliam

Allen Ray Gilliam, 68, of North Little Rock, Arkansas passed away at the Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock, Friday, March 17 with loving family members by his side.

Allen was born November 26, 1954, in Liberal, Kansas to Robert B. Gilliam and Martha Hampton Gilliam.  Allen married the love of his life, Suzanne Hudspeth on December 19, 1998, in Benton, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Suzanne, mother, Martha Gilliam, daughter, Haley, brothers Robert B. Gilliam, Jr. (Angela), Ronald F. Gilliam and Forrest H. Gilliam (Gay), and nephew Timothy  Gilliam.  He is also survived by stepdaughter, Michelle Lassiter, step grandchildren, Shelby, Garrett, and Nova, and by many loving cousins and friends.

Alan graduated from Elkhart High School in Elkhart, Kansas in 1972 and from Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1977 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  In his senior year of college, he and another student were chosen by their professor to accompany him to NASA, in Hampton, Virginia to do performance testing on metals for airplane wings.  Allen was an avid KU fan.  

After graduating college, he went to work for Cities Service Oil & Gas Company in Denver, Colorado, wildcatting wells in Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. In 1987–1988 he helped design the Aurora Reservoir Dam which was completed in 1989.  This provided  water for Aurora, Colorado and also water recreation for Aurora and surrounding communities. Allen moved to Arkansas in 1989 to be near his parents and began work with ADEQ in January, 1990 as the sole Pre-Treatment Engineer in Arkansas. He was very concerned about our planet and a firm believer in diligent recycling.  He wanted future generations to enjoy what we had in our lifetime.  

Allen enjoyed many sports, especially excelling in baseball. He had a scholarship to play baseball at SCCC in Liberal Kansas in his first year of college and played for the Liberal Bee-Jays.  He co-coached two summers for the Little League teams in Elkhart Kansas.  He loved camping, boating, fishing, golfing, water, and snow skiing, especially with his beloved wife and family.

The family honored Allen’s wishes to be cremated and had no memorial service.