Trumann- Melvin Gillis was born on January 30, 1921 at Leachville and passed into the arms of Jesus on March 3, 2016 at the age of 95 years 1 month and 4 days. He attended school at McCormick and Harrisburg. Right out of high school he joined the United States Marine Corps and fought in the Pacific Campaign of World War II, attaining the rank of Corporal. Upon returning from the war, he married the love of his life, Frances Spencer, with whom he shared 70 years and 10 months of devoted companionship. Melvin worked as a dry cleaner, farmer, surveyor and then at the Singer Manufacturing Plant at Trumann. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Trumann for over forty years after moving from Greenfield Baptist Church where he had served as a deacon. Melvin enjoyed woodworking, crappie fishing and hunting- almost but not quite as much as he loved spending time with his sons and grandchildren. He also loved Razorback football and basketball and Cardinal baseball. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Tilman and Lela Gillis; two brothers, Elvis and Burl; two sisters, Mary Lois Yates and Bernice Crone. He is survived by his wife, Frances; three sons and their wives, Stephen and Maria of Jonesboro, Russell and Sandy of Dulzura, CA and Michael and Jill of Weiner; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; his baby sister and her husband, Lavada and Wayne Edwards of Clarksdale, MS and a host of nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life will be 2:00 pm Sunday, March 6, 2016 at Gregg- Langford Bookout Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Maley officiating. Burial will follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until time of service Sunday at the funeral home. Honored to serve as pallbearers are Ryan Sheets, Bryan Burton, Glen Gillis, Nick Kinard, Christian Watson and Kenneth Holt. Lasting memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.