ojwgillia.html

The Mt. Adams Sun, Bingen, WA., July 2, 1952, page 3
"Trout Lake"

Sadness came over the whole valley Friday evening when the sad news that little John William Gilliam had died suddenly while visiting at the Fred Winebarger home near W.S. John would have been four years old Sept. 26. He and his mother, the former Annabelle Huffman and his grandmother, Mrs. Martha Huffman, came to T.L. a week ago to visit at the Rodger Coate home. The Gilliams live in New Mexico. Mr. Gilliam arrived her by plane Sunday. Our deepest sympathies goes to the parents and relatives.

The Mt. Adams Sun, July 2, 1953, page 5

SUDDEN DEATH ASCRIBED TO EXCESS SUGAR

Poison or strangulation on a fish bone was ruled out Tuesday as having caused the death of John William Gilliam, 3 years and 9 months old.
The lively little lad who "had never been sick a day in his life" became suddenly ill at the Fred Winebarger home near White Salmon Friday noon, June 26. Accompanied by his mother, the former Annabelle Coate of Trout lake, and his grandmother, Mrs. Martha Huffman of Eugene, the three had made a brief call at the Winebarger's before continuing their trip to Eugene.
The Winebarger's insisted they remain for lunch. Suddenly the boy turned ghostly white, said that "The house is going around". By the time he arrived at the doctor's office he had gone into convulsions. He was taken immediately to Skyline Hospital but expired on arrival.
By authorization of the child's mother, Mrs. Wm. Rayford Gilliam, Dr. William L. Lehman of Portland performed the autopsy which revealed that cause of death as a lethal excess of sugar in the blood - a diabetic condition which had not been suspected. Medical verification of Deputy Coroner T.W. Mitchell said verbal report has not been obtained nor is the autopsy finished.
Frantic efforts to notify the boy's father, a construction worker near Maxwell, N.M. reached him at 5 p.m. Saturday night, and 12 hours later he arrived at the Portland airport.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 30, at St. Joseph's Catholic church in White Salmon, the Rev. Martin Skehan officiating. Gardners were in charge of arrangements. Interment was in the Trout Lake cemetery.
Little John William was an only child. Besides the aforementioned relatives, he is survived by his grandfather, B.A. Gilliam of Lovington, New Mexico; and two great uncles, Roger Coate of Trout Lake and Lester Coate of Eugene.