Location: S-Monroe

Born: December 19, 1924 China Spring, McLennan County, Texas

Died: January 2, 2013 Waco, McLennan County, Texas

Parents:
Arthur Young Carpenter (1882 – 1947)
Mittie Rebecca Andrews Carpenter (1891 – 1979)

Spouse:
Robert Dewitt Gilliam (1923 – 1981)

Children:
Tommy Lee Gilliam (1945 – 1947)

Attie Lee Gilliam, 88, of China Spring, Texas, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, with her family at her side through life as well as her death. Graveside services will be 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 5, with Tom Lene, Deacon and long time dear friend, officiating at China Spring Cemetery, in the community where she grew up. The family will receive visitors 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.

Attie Lee was born in China Spring, Texas, to the late Arthur Y. Carpenter and Mittie Andrews Carpenter, the youngest of five children. She grew up in China Spring and attended schools in China Spring and in Waco. On June 6, 1942, she married Robert D. ” Jack” Gilliam. Attie Lee’s occupations started with her working beside her father in the family grocery store and later during World War II as a “Rosie the Riveter” working on aircraft. In the early 1950s, she and Jack started Gilliam Construction and were active in the company until his death in 1981.

At a young age, Attie Lee gave her heart to the Lord and was always faithful in church. She loved serving the Lord, especially being a member of the WMU and a leader in the Awana program at Bosqueville Baptist Church. She loved helping in the development of the spiritual and faithful growth of children. She was a charter member of Grace Baptist Church in China Spring and a past member of the China Spring Civic Club. She enjoyed serving as a member of the Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center Auxiliary in the 1980s. Her greatest loves were her four grandsons. She had the opportunity to be a part of their lives on a daily basis and watch them grow into wonderful, successful young men. They kept her very busy with all of their sporting events and keeping the cookie jar full of snicker doodles and tea cakes. Most of all, she will be remembered for her homemade chocolate pudding and the best coconut cream pies. Attie lived the last years of her life at Providence St. Catherine’s nursing facility where she made many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her eldest son, Tommy; and brothers, Coke, Jigs, and Addis Carpenter.

Survivors include her daughter, Rebecca “Becky” Lindsey and husband, Claude, of Waco, their children and grandchildren; Ryan and Jennifer Lindsey and son, William, of Waco, Russell and Dr. Sara Lindsey and daughters, Leighton and Emma of Heath, Texas; son, Dale Gilliam and wife, Teresa, of China Spring, their children and grandchildren, Dr. Bradley and Kaley Gilliam and children, Colton and Bristol of San Antonio; Brent and Christie Gilliam; her sister, Ruby Saffle, of Paris, Texas, and many cherished extended family members and dear friends.