David Wesley Gilley, age 75, left this world on Sunday, May 12th, 2024, to celebrate a heavenly Mother’s Day with his beloved mother whom he hadn’t seen since he was 12 years old. A perfect homecoming!
David was born January 10, 1949 in Cleburne, Texas, to Wesley “W.W.” and Marjorie Gilley. Although living in Keene, Texas, David attended Cleburne schools. He was a fierce and dedicated Yellowjacket football player, even winning the Kiwanis Sportsmanship Award in 1966, and graduated in 1967.
Following graduation, David attended the Elkins Electronic Institute, setting him up for his successful 41year career in Communications for Santa Fe Railroad, later to become BNSF. He retired in 2009.
At age 21, David married the love of his life Marijane Moore of Brownwood, Texas (formerly of Cleburne, Texas). They would have celebrated 54 years of marriage next week on May 23rd. David and Marijane raised their two boys, Lance and Blake, in San Angelo, Texas.
David and Marijane invested their time, efforts, and passions into their boys and their interests. David coached many YMCA football teams from Pee Wee through Heavy Weights (winning the City Championship with the Bears), and he also coached Little League baseball teams (winning the City Championship for the Pirates) and served as a Board Member for years at Western Little League. He made a positive impact on his sons and countless young athletes. In later years, David loved supporting his sons’ sports teams (football, basketball, baseball) at Glenn Junior High and San Angelo Central High School. He was super proud of their accomplishments on and off the field.
Throughout his life, David enjoyed water sports/water skiing, fishing, and hunting. He taught his boys and the grandchildren (and countless others) the love of being out on the water, both through skiing and fishing. He was a proud member of the Concho Bass Club and in its Top 6. In 1998, he even caught the Lake Nasworthy fishing record: a bass that weighed 12.43 lbs., more than his first grandbaby who was born 3 months later! Although he loved deer hunting, in his later years, and with a softer heart, he began deer watching….mostly deer feeding, sometimes over 25 deer showing up to “dinner” in their backyard at Mesquite Ranch in Brownwood.
David was a great fisher of fish, but God called him to become a fisher of men. In San Angelo, he served as a Deacon and a Youth Group sponsor in San Angelo at College Hills Christian Church, and later was a member of San Angelo’s First United Methodist Church. In Mills County, he became the Lay Pastor at Pompey Mountain Church from 2008 – 2020, where he initiated the Memorial Day Fish Fry (catching all the fish for the first feast himself) and the Hamburger & Hotdog Lunch and Parade for 4th of July every year. The biggest celebration was, of course, the annual Christmas pageant, where family, friends, kids, and grandkids wore costumes as Joseph, Mary, the baby Jesus, angels, complete with the 3 wise men. David loved Christmas! Even in his final days, he sang to Marijane “I’ll be home for Christmas”.
Those who knew David know he was an avid Elvis Presley fan (going on 4 Elvis cruises and trips to Graceland and naming his firstborn son after him!). He loved playing washers in tournaments, working in his shop, collecting tools, fishing gear, and communications equipment, watching Gunsmoke, taking care of his goats and donkeys, spoiling his kitties, and playing ball with his favorite short stop (his border collie Betsy). He was a music fan, attending concerts like Elvis, Neil Diamond, and George Strait. He enjoyed grilling and smoking meats for those he loved. That man could make some sticky sweet ribs!
More than anything, David loved his Lord, his wife, and his family. His grandchildren, who knew him as “Diamond”, were his true treasures: Lane, Shelby, Abby, and Levin.
David lived a life worth living. He will be greatly missed, but we are looking forward to the reunion in heaven. He is survived by his wife, Marijane Gilley, his two sons and their families, Lance and Shana Gilley of Weatherford, Texas, and Blake and Jennifer Gilley of Boulder, Colorado. Grandchildren include Lane and Teegan Gilley of Arlington, Texas, Shelby Gilley of Weatherford, Texas, and Abby and Levin Gilley of Boulder, Colorado. David’s older sister is Lana Gilley Moody of Port Aransas (her children: Marjorie and Bradley) and his younger brother and sister-in-law are Leslie and Annette Gilley of Fischer, Texas (their children: Travis, Brannon, and Brady). David also loved Marijane’s brothers and their families: Jim and his wife Jackie of Cleburne, Texas, Joe Jr. and Kay Moore of Paul, Idaho, Brack Moore of Grandview, Texas and all his special nephews (Jason, Dustin, Christopher, Ty, and Brack) and niece (Kaylee). David was preceded in death by his parents “W.W.” and Marjorie Gilley, grandparents (Lester & Ethel Gilley and Leon “Paps” & Julia Borden), two brothers-in-law (Joe Jr. and Brack) and other special aunts, uncles, and cousins.
David’s funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 17, 2024, in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.
Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Gilley family online at heartlandfuneralhome.com