The Salt Lake Telegram
Salt Lake City, Utah
2 February, 1935

FORMER  S. L.
PASTOR KILLED
_____________

    Dr. J. D. Gillilan, 76, Methodist minister more than 50 years and former well known pastor of Salt Lake City and Utah, was instantly killed Thursday at Gooding, Idaho, when he was struck by a truck driven by Sherman Fordyce, according to an Associated Press dispatch.
    Dr. Gillilan was walking home with Mrs. Gillilan on the road near the edge of town when the accident occurred as told to Sheriff Wayne Flack. Mr. Fordyce was blinded by lights from an approaching car and did not see the elderly couple on the highway. Mr. Fordyce stopped immediately and took Dr. Gillilan to a physician’s office, where the retired minister was pronounced dead.
    Funeral services have been set for Monday at Filer, Idaho. Final arrangements were pending the arrival of a brother, L. M. Gillilan, from Salt Lake City, well known educator here, and two sons from Portland.
    Dr. Gilliland was born in Ohio in 1859. He had been Methodist pastor in Blackfoot, Pocatello, American Falls, Glenns Ferry, Boise, Filer and Wendell. Upon retiring from the Wendell church he moved to Gooding, where he continued to take an active part in church and lodge affairs.
    Dr. Gillilan was well known in Salt Lake City and Utah, having spent many years here serving in various pastorates for his church. He arrived in Utah in 1883 and later went to Idaho.
    In 1916 he went to the Orient with a delegation of Methodist leaders to inspect missions there. Member of the Masonic lodge for many years, he once served as Idaho grand chaplain. He also was a member of the Woodmen of the World, Pocatello, and the Odd Fellows lodge at Filer.
    Dr. Gillilan retired from active church work in 1934. The veteran pastor was at one time superintendent of missions in Utah. He had also written several books.
    Surviving are his widow; three sons and a daughter, Clare Gillilan, Filer, James and C. L. Gillilan, Portland, Ore., and Mrs. Charles E. Leonard, Boise, and two brothers, L. M. Gillilan, Salt Lake City, and Strickland Gillilan, noted humorist and poet.

-	transcription by Kate Maynard, 2011
•	A photo of Gilliland accompanied the original obituary published in the Telegram.