Robert LaVerl Gilliland

Sep 4, 1925 -

Dec 14, 2019

Robert LaVerl Gilliland, 94, passed away on Dec. 14, 2019, at the Alaska Pioneer Home in Anchorage, Alaska.

A memorial service will be held on Sept. 4, 2020, at 12 p.m. at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E Street, Anchorage, AK 99501. Maurice N. Ellis, stepson, will be the officiant. Following the service, Robert's urn will be interred at Fort Richardson National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. The inurnment service will be conducted with full military honors.

Robert was born on Sept. 4, 1925, in Boise, Idaho, to Charles and Minnie Gilliland. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Seward, Alaska, where Robert was raised. Robert joined the United States Marine Corps in 1943. He served during World War II in Okinawa, Japan, and later in China. After his service in the military, Robert went on to earn a Juris Doctorate degree. He served as a judge on the Oregon Circuit Court from 1960-1975. Robert then moved back to Alaska, living in Fairbanks and Anchorage, and worked for the United States Department of the Interior as Attorney and Chairman of the Alaska Native Claims Act and as Attorney for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. After his retirement, Robert met Beverly Anne Ellis-Gilliland, whom he wed in 2001. Beverly later passed away on June 5, 2018.

Robert is survived by his daughter, Nancy Gilliland of Washington state; and son, James Gilliland of Oregon; he is also survived by his stepsons, Maurice Ellis of Anchorage and David Ellis of Gainsville, Va.; their wives, Pamela Ellis and Julie Ellis; and stepgrandchildren, Nathaniel Ellis, Stephen Ellis, Alexandra Ellis, Cody Ellis and Colton Ellis. Robert is preceded in death by his son, Thomas Gilliland; and parents, Charles Pope Gilliland and Minnie Gilliland.