CLARENCE EVERETT GILKISON
GILKISON
Jan. 18, 1949–Sept. 27, 2018
Funeral services for Clarence Everett Gilkison will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, at Weston County Senior Center in Newcastle, Wyo. Visitation will take place one hour prior to services. Clarence Everett Gilkison, 69, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, in the early morning hours at Campbell County Memorial Hospital in Gillette, Wyo., due to complications from exposure to Agent Orange. His son Jeff and nephew Jim Krank were at his side. Everett, the son of Clarence Elmer and Mamie Mildred (Ross) Gilkison, was born on Jan. 18, 1949, in Westfir, Ore.
Everett enlisted in the United States Army on March 27, 1968, and completed Basic Training at Ft. Louis, Wash. He went on to Advanced Training at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Everett was deployed directly into Vietnam and served one year in country from November of 1968 to November of 1969. He was transferred to Germany in December of 1969 where he finished his three-year tour of duty. Everett was a decorated service member and an M-14 Sharpshooter; he received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Two Overseas Bars. He was Honorably Discharged on March 18, 1971, and is a lifetime member of the VFW Post #2516, Newcastle.
Everett and Donna Mae Bartsch were married on Aug. 2, 1977, in Rapid City, S.D. They had one son, Jeffrey Allen Gilkison, born Feb. 4, 1978. The couple divorced in 1984. Everett married Virginia “Ginger” Clyde in 1995; they were divorced in 1996.
Everett worked for True Oil as a roustabout and pumper for eight years. While working for True the family lived in Clareton, Wyo. Everett began work at Black Thunder Coal Mine as a blade operator and retired with 28 years of service in February 2015.
Everett is survived by his son, Jeff (Newcastle); sisters, Rosalie Cooley (Newcastle) and Clara Varner (Bellingham, Wash.); brother, Boise Gilkison (Newcastle); aunt, Marge Kephart (Oakridge, Ore.); nieces and nephews, Colleen (Bob) Goodart (Newcastle), Geri Lee Russell (Cheyenne, Wyo.), David Russell (Newcastle), Kerry (Wayne) Rettinghouse (Casper, Wyo.), Wendy (Jack) Fall (Moorcroft, WY), Ross (Julie Richardson) Russell (Newcastle, WY), Keith (Amber) Russell (Bozeman, Mont.), Darla (Kevin) Ridl (Casper, Wyo.), Jim (Vilma) Krank (Newcastle), Wes Krank (Newcastle), Mary (Randy) Dixon (Newcastle,), Mamie (Ron Willadson) Krank (Newcastle), Tim Schulze (Newcastle), Everett (Cheri) Schulze (Sheridan, Wyo.), Laurel (James) Burke (Bellingham, Wash.); and numerous cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Everett is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Mamie Gilkison; his sister, Bessie Russell; and two infant nephews.
Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Walker Funeral Home, 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY 82716.
Condolences may also be expressed at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com.