David Richard Gilley

Funeral services for David Richard Gilley of Cleveland, Oklahoma will be held 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at the Woodland Cemetery Chapel with David Logsdon officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home. David was born May 20, 1942 in Wasco, California. He was the son of Harvey Basil and Dorothy Mae (Crider) Gilley. At a young age of David moved with his family to Cleveland, Oklahoma where he began his education. During his 7th grade year the family moved to Oregon for a short time before returning to Cleveland. David soon began driving a truck helping in the construction of the Highway 99 bridge North of Cleveland. On October 12, 1961, David was united in marriage to the love of his life Laura Christine Wilkins. Following the completion of the bridge North of Cleveland; David continued in the construction business of roads and moved to Perry, Oklahoma. He and Chris followed the construction of I-35 from Perry to Conroe, Texas. Following the completion of I-35 the couple moved to McAlester, Oklahoma. In the mid 1960ís, David and Chris returned to Cleveland where he began working on the construction of Highway 51. They later moved to Sand Springs for a short time before returning to their current home in 1972. David began working for Fram in 1965 as a welder. Following several name changes and moves of the company; David retired from Purolator Facet in 1991 when the company moved to Owasso. After retiring from Purolator Facet, David started his own trucking business, Gilleyís Construction. After a short time, he was joined by his son Rick. They were in business together for a few years hauling rock and sand, doing a little construction here and there. After his health started to deteriorate he decided to turn the business, which he dearly loved over to his son. David had many things he enjoyed doing in his spare time. Some of the things were leather work, writing western short stories, reading especially things by Louis Lamour. He also enjoyed watching shows that starred John Wayne, Charlie Chan or Red Skelton. David liked getting his grandkids together and watching Abbot and Costello shows. The first two weeks in July were usually devoted to family. He and Chris would load the ìBlue Busî up and take the family on vacation. They would normally travel to Florida, Colorado, New Mexico or Arkansas and even went to Mexico. Most of all in life David loved spending his time with his family he felt that; if you had a close family everything else would take care of its self. David passed from this life on Monday, February 6, 2012, at his home in Cleveland, Oklahoma at the age of 69 years of age. Survivors are his wife Laura Christine of the home, three children Laura Walters and her husband Keven of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Christy Francies and her husband Mark of Jennings, Oklahoma, Rick Gilley and his fiance Holly and her children, Miriah, Aryss and Bree of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; one brother Duane Gilley of Osage, Oklahoma; four sisters Loretta Patak and her husband Frank of Perry, Oklahoma, Juanita Short of Coweta, Oklahoma, Patricia Marcum and her husband Jack of Harrah, Oklahoma, Teresa Lemon and her husband Ronnie of Cleveland, Oklahoma; one sister in law Patricia Gilley of Cleveland, Oklahoma; ten grandchildren Christopher, Stephan, Tiffany, Matthew, Michael, Nicholas, Chelsea, Ricky Don, David, Rickashae, three great grandchildren Trinity, Braxton, Adelyn as well as a host of other relatives and friends that will mourn his passing. In addition to his parents David was preceded in death by his brother Jack Gilley. He was preceded in death by parents, Harvey Basil and Dorothy Mae Gilley, brother Jack Gilley.