Ray V. Gilley, Sr.

RAY V. GILLEY, Sr., age 84, of Bel Air, died in St. Joseph Medical Center, Towson on March 1, 2005. Born in Ash County, North Carolina, he was the son of the late James Lester and Villar Victoria Barr Gilley. He worked as a carpenter for Livezey Construction. He served his country in WW II in the infantry as a rifleman in the 323rd Infantry Company H. He enjoyed spending time in his garden, with his family, and at his summer home in Lansing, North Carolina. He handed out candy to everyone he saw and was known as the “candy man”. He was a member and chairman of the deacons at Carsins Run Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school.

Mr. Gilley is survived by his wife of 58 years, Venia “Ettie” L. Ham Gilley; two sons, Ray V. Gilley, Jr. and his dear friend, Cindy Sayers of Aberdeen; Wayne Gilley and his wife, Ruth of Aberdeen; two daughters, Linda J. Reynolds and her husband, Noble of Aberdeen; Penny L. Kurek and her husband, Stephen of Bel Air; two brothers, Ted Gilley of Lansing, North Carolina; Ned Gilley of Abingdon; three sisters, Beryl Kearney of Towson; Virginia Bennett of New Castle, Delaware; Irene Lovejoy of Bear, Delaware; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by four brothers, Paul Gilley, Elmer Gilley, Grant Gilley, and Earl Gilley.

Pallbearers were: Allen Perry, Larry Perry, Gary Perry, Robert Perry, Jimmy Bennett, and Jimmy Gilley. Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren.