Taught at Mt. Zion Bible School for 17 years Milan Grover Bourland, 78, eldest son of Grover Green Bourland and Pauline Nera Clanin Bourland, was born near Osceola on Feb. 9, 1928, and received spiritual promotion to the presence of the Lord on May 27, 2006.
On Sept. 23, 1949, Milan married Vera Lorene Reasoner. To this union four sons were born: James, and wife, JoAnn, of Clinton, Randy, and wife, Patti, of El Dorado Springs, Milan, and wife, Lora, Moore, S.C., and Tim, and wife, Tammy, of Gladstone. They all, along with seven granddaughters, two grandsons and six great-grandchildren, lovingly grieve but know without question that their husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather celebrates his homecoming.
Milan loved his family and he loved music. He was self-taught and played the guitar, mandolin and banjo. He made music an important part of his ministry, as he and Vera played together.
Milan was saved the June following his graduation from high school, was sanctified shortly thereafter and within a few months answered God’s call to the ministry. He received a junior college degree from Mt. Zion Bible School in 1948 and completed his bachelor of theology at Kansas City College and Bible School in 1951. His educational pursuits were, however, a lifelong quest.
This is a summary of the ministerial efforts of Milan: 1947 – 1949 Sprague, Mo.; 1949-1951: full-time evangelism; 1952 – 1956: Herriman Chapel; 1956-1959: Brush Arbor, Mo.; I959-1965: Kinser Chapel, Mo.; 1965-1969: Lowry City; 1969 – 1973: El Molte, Calif.; 1973 – 1979: Blackjack-. 1979 – 1988: Fulton; 1988 – 1996: Log Church, Mo.; 1996 – promotion Saturday: Herriman Chapel.
In addition, Milan taught at Mt. Zion Bible School for 17 years and served in several other capacities there, including dean of students, business manager, editor and publisher of the Reporter, as principal and as its president. He also served the Lord and the Church of God (Holiness) with extended periods of ministry on both the Home and World Mission Boards, the Publishing Board and the Convention Roll Committee.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 30, in the Lowry City Church of God (Holiness) with the Revs. Darrell Swearengin, Jack Smith and Noel Scott officiating. Burial was in the Lowry City Cemetery under the direction of Sheldon Funeral Home of El Dorado Springs.
