God called Gilley home on Monday
On June 2 at 6 a.m., God called home one of McMinnville’s finest citizens. The city and this area will miss Bill Gilley dearly.
Only a few days ago, he spoke at the opening of the new city pool named in honor of Bill and his wife, Jean. The Gilley Pool is a great memorial to Bill and without his efforts we’d still be trying to patch the old worn-out pool. It was largely through his efforts the new pool got built. He did it for the children and for all the citizens of this area.
McMinnville has a lot to thank Bill for. He served the city in one capacity or another all of his adult life. Many of our citizens learned to swim because of Bill’s help, along with that of his wife.
Bill was very active in his church and just Sunday taught our Sunday school class at First Baptist. He was a good Christian man and he taught so many of us what it means to love our fellow man as God wants us to.
We know God loved Bill and when He called him home, it was a gentle call. I guess God needed Bill to help in heaven as he has on Earth.
Rest in peace our beloved friend.
Bob Searle
204 Westbrook Lane
McMinnville