Preacher Jimmy Gillmore

Preacher Jimmy D. Gillmore, 87. Our beloved Father, Grandfather and Husband passed away on August 16, 2021. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 19 at Riverview Baptist Church with Bro. Scott Wallace, Bro. Alton Ray Cheatwood and Bro. Mike Kelley officiating.  Burial will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Borger.  The family will greet friends at Riverview Baptist Church from 5:00 until 7:00 Wednesday evening.  Bro. Gillmore will lie in state at his beloved church from 5:00 Wednesday evening until service time.  He can be viewed at the funeral home until 3:00 p.m. Wednesday.

Bro. Gillmore was born June 18, 1934 in Quitaque, TX to Gus Lucian Gillmore and Opal Vera Allen Gillmore. He served his country in the Navy Reserve and married Beverly Ford on August 14, 1954 in Roswell, NM.  Jimmy began his call to the ministry by preaching faithfully at Faith City Mission in Amarillo Texas and by filling in as a substitute preacher around the community. Riverview Baptist Church was the first church he pastored and many thought he would not be there long as pastors came and went. He faithfully preached the gospel of Jesus for more than 54 years and was still preaching up until his death.
When he came to Riverview, people asked if he wanted to be called Reverend or Pastor. He said, "just call me Preacher", and they still do today.

Preacher was the catalyst behind the creation of Camp Masterson, which is owned and operated by Riverview Baptist Church. The Bivens family owned this property, which originally consisted of an old schoolhouse and a few acres of land. They agreed to give it to the church as long as it was used as a nonprofit and to help children. The camp continues to thrive today and has grown significantly in structures and acreage. The camp motto is, "Provided by the Master, for His Son".

Many men play golf or fish or find a hobby as a way to relieve stress and find refreshment. Preacher was never big on hobbies or games except maybe a competitive game of Monopoly in his earlier days where he would buy up the best properties, develop his motels and take everyone's money. When Preacher needed a break or some time alone, you would find him on a road grader plowing a new road or on a backhoe digging a hole or maybe on a tractor mowing the grass. He loved equipment and playing in the dirt. Colorado was also a favorite place to take his family for a time away in the camper.

There was a time during Preacher's ministry when many residents in the community were being displaced and had to move their homes and lives because of the danger of being too close to Phillips Petroleum Company and some of its assets. Riverview Baptist Church was also asked to move during this time. Preacher had the vision and courage to develop a community called Beverly Hills, where the church was relocated along with many residents. Preacher named this community after his beloved wife, Beverly and all of the streets were named after his children and grandchildren because he dearly loved his family. He taught his family to trust wholeheartedly, love unconditionally, give sacrificially, pray fervently and put Jesus before everything else. He was the best husband, dad, granddad and great granddad a family could hope for. And Preacher loved his church more than anyone could ever know.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his two great-grandsons Thatcher Caleb Paul and Caden Joshua Paul, his three sisters and three brothers.

Bro. Gillmore is survived by his loving wife of sixty-seven years Beverly, his son Rocky Gillmore and his wife Sue of Houston, his daughter Jennie Raef and her husband Stan of Amarillo, his six grandchildren Memre Culwell and her husband Chad, Haven Reed, Shiloh Reed and his wife Amber, Robin Jackson and her husband Blake, Whitney Paul and her husband Eric, Nathan Gillmore and his wife Katie, his fifteen great-grandchildren Greysen, Maclin, Grant, Madok, Linden, Hadley, Hudson, Nash, Neely, Nora, Nixon, Asher, Batia, Emmett and Foster, his brother Rodney Gillmore and his wife Dena of Claude and his sister Debbie Mitchell of Amarillo.

Casket bearers will be Haven Reed, Shiloh Reed, Nathan Gillmore, Chad Culwell, Blake Jackson and Eric Paul.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Camp Masterson in care of Riverview Baptist Church, 500 Riverview St., Borger, TX 79007.

His service will be live streamed on the church facebook page at Riverview Baptist Church Borger, it will also be recorded and replayed on this website.