Obituary of Jimmy Rex Gilley

Mr. Jimmy Rex "J. R." Gilley, 74, of Ozark, died Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at his home with his family at his bedside. Funeral services will be 10:00 A. M. Friday, September 14, 2012, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with Reverend Bobby Ned Peters officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens with the Alabama State Troopers Honor Guard, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. Alabama State Troopers will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 5:00 P. M. until 7:00 P. M. Mr. Gilley was born July 1, 1938 in Slocomb, Alabama to the late Foy Gilley and Bessie Bernell Peters Gilley. In 1968 he started employment with the Alabama Department of Public Safety, Patrol Division. He was a member of the Alabama State Trooper Association and the Disaster Control Guard, now Special Operations. He also worked the cattle detail all over the state, the weight detail, and later he was assigned to the Driver's License Division as a hearing officer. He retired in 1994. He was an avid supporter of his children and grandchildren in all their activities; in dance, band, and coached them and their friends in little league football, baseball, and softball; and in later years he coached their children. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, William D. and W. Belle Bowden Cherry; and one sister-in-law, Bernell Cherry Knight. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Joyce Cherry Gilley of Ozark; his son, Michael Alan (Malissa) Gilley of Ozark; his daughter, Deborah Lynn Tipton of Ozark; three grandchildren, Shanna Brooke Gilley Phillips, Dustin Myles Gilley, Amanda Lynne Tipton Sigers; two great grandchildren, Clayton David Phillips and Maci Brooke Sigers. two sisters, Metha Jean (Charles) Wallace of Newton and Betty Lois (Jerry) Hagler of Ozark; brothers-in-law, William E. (Marie) Cherry of Dothan and Kenneth D. (Sandy) Cherry of Hartford. Several nieces and nephews also survive. The family extends a special thank you to Gentiva Hospice nurses, Sandra Shellhouse and Sandy Cherry. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Attn; Katie Rotton, 3054 McGehee Road, Montgomery, Alabama 36111; Gentiva Hospice, P. O. Box 2127, Dothan, Alabama 36302; or to the Alabama State Troopers Association, P.O. Box 1286, Montgomery, Alabama 36102. Service Information