Christopher Williams Gilbert

With a smile that lit up a room, Christopher Williams Gilbert will be remembered as a wonderful son, compassionate friend, fierce trivia and video game competitor, armchair philosopher, outgoing leader and young man deeply loved by many. Born in Oklahoma City to Dr. Kerri Williams and John Gilbert on Dec. 21, 1987, Chris left this life Dec. 12, 2014, just a few days before his 27th birthday. He graduated from Heritage Hall High School before attending the University of Oklahoma where he graduated with distinction with a B.A. in Psychology and an M.B.A. from the Price College of Business. He was an active member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and made many close friends, with whom he loved sharing new experiences and meaningful conversation. Chris held internships in Governor Mary Fallin's office and Heritage Trust Company before going to work at Kirkpatrick Bank, where he worked until just recently accepting a position with Access Midstream. Even as a young child, Christopher was an organizer and a leader who regularly came up with great ideas and recruited others to implement them, including rallying the neighbors (both adults and children) to build a tree house in his neighbor's backyard. He earned his Eagle Scout award by clearing and preparing a third camp site at Camp DaKaNi. Chris was an avid reader, a fan of cheesy horror movies, a sports enthusiast and a fitness buff. His warmth, sense of humor and kind spirit created a positive and lasting impression on all he met. He was dearly loved by all his high school classmates, fraternity brothers and numerous friends. Thanksgiving 2014 will always be remembered as a joyful holiday with Christopher baking pies with his dad, eating Lonnie "Nanu's" wonderful meal, playing games with family and enjoying time with cousins. His family jokes that he inherited only the best qualities from each of his parents, including his dad's height and mom's intellect and good looks. Christopher is survived by his adoring father John, grandmother Lonnie "Nanu" Williams, uncle and aunt Mike and Lisa Gilbert, aunt Ardyth Jimerson, and cousins Natalie and Katie Gilbert and Matthew and Karah Jimerson, many dear friends and beloved boxer Ajax. Preceding him in death and welcoming him in her heavenly arms is his mother Kerri who died in 1996, less than a month after Chris's 8th birthday. He was also preceded in death by his grandfather Bernie Williams, and grandparents Emma and George Gilbert. A memorial service to celebrate Christopher's life will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 19, at Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur Blvd. In remembrance of his mom's battle with cancer and the void her absence left in his life, memorial gifts may be made to the local Susan G. Komen chapter at 115 Park Avenue, OKC, OK 73102 or www.komencentralwesternok.org.