William Clifford “Cliff” Gilley age 90 of Chattahoochee, Florida passed away on Monday, January 18, 2021 at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. He was born in Gray, Kentucky on November 2, 1930 to the late Fred W. Gilley and Lora Mae White Gilley. Cliff married his high school sweetheart, Wilma Lewis. They were married fifty-four years when she went to be with the Lord. He was then blessed with another loving wife, Margaret Neely Gilley. They were incredibly happy together and he inherited bonus children and grandchildren from her. Cliff was a veteran of the United States Army where he was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He worked 10 years as a telegraph operator for the railroad before going to work for ACI, where he retired after 38 years as a purchasing agent.
Cliff was a devout Christian and loved serving the Lord in many roles through the years. He helped start Calvary Baptist Church and served faithfully as a deacon for over fifty years at the First Baptist Church of Chattahoochee as well as Calvary Baptist Church. Cliff sang in the 39ers choir and was known as the choir clown. He taught Sunday School for many years and had a class of 13-year-old boys known as the “Gilley Monsters”. Cliff held worship services at the River Campground for many years with Grady Turnage for campers.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, writing books, drawing, woodcarving, growing and sharing flowers with friends which including grafting camellias.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Wilma Lewis Gilley and all five of his siblings.
Cliff is survived by his loving wife of thirteen years, Margaret Neely Gilley; three children, Melinda Gilley Cort and husband Blaine of Chattahoochee, Florida, Patrick Neely and wife Darlene of Murphy, North Carolina, Miriam Neely Fleisher and husband John of Greenville, South Carolina; one grandchild, Allison Cort. He is also survived by fifteen bonus grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and four on the way.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 AM EST on Saturday, January 30, 2021 in the First Baptist Church of Chattahoochee with Reverend Warren Fox and Mr. Patrick Neely officiating. Burial will follow in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Chattahoochee. A time of visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Condolences may be submitted at www.mcalpinfuneralhome.com.
