David Arlan Gilley

"I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever"

David Arlan Gilley, 48, of Ragley, LA met his savior surrounded by his family and friends at 5:30 PM on Friday, December 30, 2011 in a local hospital.

Mr. Gilley was born June 7, 1963 in Lake Charles, LA and has lived in the Lake Charles / Moss Bluff area most of his life, until moving to Ragley five years ago. He was a 1981 graduate of LaGrange Senior High School and attended McNeese State University. He was the owner of Gilco Construction, where he worked most of his life. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Charles. Mr. Gilley loved all sports, including water sports, baseball, football, motocross, and participated and placed in Western Pleasure Competitions in his younger years. He will always be remembered as a loving dad and grandfather; his children were his pride and joy. He was always a loyal, nonjudgmental friend, who never met a stranger.

Mr. Gilley is survived by his children, Candice Hicks and husband Chase of Sulphur, LA, Cody Gilley and girlfriend Cammy Percle of Sulphur, LA, and Cameron Gilley of Westlake, LA; father, Lonnie Gilley of Ragley, LA and close friend, Lynda Trahan of Westlake, LA; siblings, Teresa Weidig and husband Chuck of Katy, TX, Lonnie "Bubba" Gilley and wife Patricia of Moss Bluff, and Trina Gilley of Ragley, LA; grandchildren, Dayton and Hadleigh Hicks; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ann Cooper Gilley; and grandparents, James Gilley, Mary Downs Gilley, Leonard Cooper, Nora Broady Parker and Jim Parker.

His funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend James Rivers will officiate. Burial will follow in Ritchie Cemetery in Moss Bluff. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Monday from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM and continue on Tuesday from 8:00 AM until the start of the service.

The family would like to express a special word of thanks to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital ICU.