Gary Duane Gilley I, 72

Gary Duane Gilley I passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Thursday, May 13, 2010, at Kalispell s Health Center Northwest. He was born in Missouri Valley, Iowa, on Aug. 11, 1937, the second of three sons to Medford and Margaret Gilley. Gary, or as family and friends called him, Gilley, spent his early years in the Midwest. On Jan. 12, 1957, he married his sweetheart, Beverly Gilley. To their union, four children were born. Gilley ran his own roofing company for many years. While in the Midwest, he also worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. Dad loved to hunt and fish. He traveled several times to Montana with his close friend, Barry Abel, to hunt. He found he left his heart in Montana, and in 1978, moved his family to Big Sky Country, first living in Hamilton and later settling permanently in the Flathead Valley. After moving to Montana, Gilley worked as an electrician and was a proud and loyal member of IBEW No. 768. Gilley was an avid reader and was always willing to share the wisdom he gained by reading. He was a lifetime member of the NRA. He collected many guns through the years and loved going to the local gun shows. After Gilley retired, he and Beverly traveled across the country in their motor home. Visiting family and friends as far east as Arkansas and as far south as Mexico, they spent their winters in Arizona and the rest of the year in their home state of Montana with their family. After some health issues, they decided to stop traveling and spend their remaining years with their children, their spouses and their grandchildren. Dad s patience and kind words for everyone were always admired. Gilley was preceded in death by his parents, Medford and Margaret Gilley; and son, Gary Duane Gilley II. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Beverly; son, Mark and Laurie Gilley of Columbia Falls; daughter, Valarie and Rex Galloway of Kalispell; daughter, Teresa and Brad Miller of Kalispell; seven grandchildren, Jason and Danielle Gilley of Columbia Falls, Tabatha and Jordan Venezio, and Erica Miller, all of Kalispell, Jamie Sue Gilley Pierce of Kansas, and Logan Nosbusch of Minnesota; brother, Robert Gilley and family of Elkhorn, Neb.; brother, Donald Gilley and family of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and numerous other family and friends. As per family wishes, a memorial for Gilley will be held at a later date. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Gilley s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Gilley s tribute wall.