Olen Dow Gillean, 81, of Greenville, TX passed away on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at Medical City Hospital of Dallas. Funeral services will be 11 AM Friday, August 11, 2023 at Bull Creek Cowboy Church with Reverend James Majors and Pastor Jeff Jackson officiating. Burial will follow at Caddo Mills I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 AM at the church.
Olen was born September 10, 1941 in Cooper, TX to Emmett and Lois Gillean. He married Elaine Majors on October 22, 1985 in Greenville, TX. Olen served in the U.S. Army Reserves for six years before working at the Hopkins and Rains County Sheriff Departments as deputy sheriff and constable, where he met his best friend and patrol partner Jerry Stevens. He then worked as a security officer at Raytheon for 18 years until he retired. Olen also served as an elder of the Bull Creek Cowboy Church in Lone Oak, TX for four years. He loved traveling, being outdoors, animals, operating his dairy farm, and chasing cows.
Olen is survived by his wife Elaine Gillean of Greenville, TX; son Shane Gillean; son Andrew Combs and wife Carol from Royse City, TX; daughter Angela Russell and husband Chuck of Atlanta, GA; grandchild April Sullivan and husband Michael of Conroe, TX; grandchild Alan Combs and wife Ashby of Houston, TX; two precious great-granddaughters and sister Regene Baker of Madisonville, TX.
He is preceded in death by his parents Emmett and Lois Gillean and son Shad Gillean.
Pallbearers will be Alan Combs, Michael Sullivan, Paul Harris, Butch Samples, Ricky Cockrum, Justin Mayer, and Dale White (honorary).
While flowers are appreciated, the family also welcomes donations to leukemia research foundations made in Olen’s name.
