A great ole soul, Charles Richard Gilley, transformed from this life to the great beyond from his Tupelo residence on Tuesday, March 6, 2023. He was 76. Born in Booneville on November 3, 1946 to the late Charlie Gilley and Peggy Brewer Gilley, who survives, Richard grew up in Booneville and graduated in 1965 from Booneville High School. He matriculated to his beloved Mississippi State University shortly thereafter and began a love affair with the Bulldogs which just never ended. Richard graduated in 1968 with a BS in Engineering. His work career included several positions with industry. With gifts of using his hands and head, Richard spent much of his life as a repairman for commercial equipment. He loved to tinker and repair about anything, was a master woodworker especially making and repairing picture frames and had a lifelong love of the history of anything, especially the history of Wars. His larger than life personality created for him a happy life and he loved nothing more than his girls and their families, his Mom and sister and any and all things Maroon and White. Smart, esp. in math, Richard was hard to beat in trivia. He was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church and especially involved in the Food Pantry ministry.
The family has chosen for all services to be private. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their friends. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
Richard is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Gilley Cole (Michael) of Fayetteville, Ark. and Scotta Gilley Allen (Paul) of Marion, Ark.; his mom, Peggy Gilley of Tupelo; his grandchildren, McKinly Young (Jacob) of Lackland AFB, Texas;, Lennon Cole Pier (Anthony) of Chattanooga and Elliot Allen of Marion, Ark. his grand grandchildren, Victoria Young and Liam Young; his sister, Wanda Armstrong of Tupelo; He was preceded in death by his dad, Charlie Gilley and a brother in law, Barry Armstrong.
Memorials may be made to St. Luke UMC Food Pantry, 1400 Clayton Avenue, Tupelo, MS. 38801
