Forrest Lee Roy Gilley

Forrest Lee Roy Gilley, 82, died July 1, 2010 Roy was born February 6, 1928 to Forrest D. Gilley and Ruby O. Robinson Gilley near Boone, CO. He attended Central High School in Pueblo where he joined the U.S. Navy in 1945. He married Mildred "Milly" Grace Molyneux in Boone on November 27, 1949 and they celebrated 60 years together last fall. Roy's Navy career included many overseas tours aboard various surface craft including the U.S.S. Dennis J. Buckley, DDR808 and the submarine U.S.S. Requin, SSR481. In 1963 he joined the US Air Force and spent a year at Shemya AFB in the Aleutian Islands. He returned to Lowry AFB in Denver where was in the control tower when the last plane landed before the air field was closed. His next duty station was at Williams AFB in Arizona where he was the senior air traffic controller before he retired in 1969. Six years of duty in the Air Force Reserve rounded out his military career of 30 years. Roy enjoyed reading - especially western novels and keeping up with the weather reports. He also had a life long interest in history. He had a deep affection for animals and the many dogs that shared his life. Roy was a member of Aurora Hills Baptist Church, Aurora, CO where he served on the board of deacons and First Baptist Church in Grand Junction. He is survived by his beloved wife, Grace, and three daughters, Julie (Ron) Nale of Aurora; Joy Gilley of Grand Junction, and Jan Bell of Greeley. He is further survived by seven grandchildren, Brian (Summer) Nale, Billings, MT; Carrie (John) Lee of Arvada, CO; Loren (Gini) Gilley of Houston, TX and Los Angeles, CA; David (Mandy) Nale of Westminster, CO; Jermaine Bell of Greeley, CO; Kellie Harris of Arvada, CO and Drew Harris of Arvada, CO. There are five great grandchildren, Jack and Andrew Lee, Arvada; Connor and Emmet Nale, Billings and Ella Grace Nale, Westminster; his brother, Lawrence Gilley of Wheat Ridge, and sister, Wilda Crockett of Arvada, CO. His parents preceded him in death.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 720 Grand Ave in Grand Junction. Memorial contributions may be made in Roy's honor to First Baptist Church or Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 3090B North 12th Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81506.