JOHN HARLEY DILLE

LAMAR- Services were held for John Harley Dille, 82, Lamar, who died.

Survivors include his wife Jolene; sister, Janice Rozell; brothers, Jim Dille and Sam Dille; stepsisters, Randa Reed and Ellen Clements; stepbrother, Loyd Corbin and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Dille was born Feb. 19, 1939, in Willington, Kan., to Jesse Samuel and Eunice Kathleen Dille. In 1951, the family moved to Lamar. After living in Lamar and Sacramento, Calif., he returned to Lamar to work with his dad in his plumbing business. He met Jolene Fast in 1965 and they were married on October 2, 1966.

His life was changed in the mid sixties when he was saved and began living his life for Jesus. He and his wife moved to Southwest Oklahoma to be houseparents at a boy’s ranch for a couple of years and then back to Lamar to pastor a small country church, Bluff Chapel. Out of that came the church that they pastored for 45 years, Grace Christian Assembly, built by him and volunteers from the congregation.

In the summers between 1984 and 2010, day camp was held at his home place called “Dilleville”, with Bible skits, stories, songs and rides on toys he had built to entertain the children.

He was a bi-vocational pastor, working in highway construction and housing construction as well as the church.

He was a unique individual whose life touched many others throughout his long lifespan. He will be missed.