Obituary for DELMA GILLEY
Without a doubt, life is a journey. For Delma Gilley, she made the absolute most of hers. During the early morning hours of August 11, 2022, Delma left her earthly home for the welcoming gates of Heaven at UT Southwestern Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
Her unforgettable journey began in Karnes City, Texas, when she was born on July 20, 1959, to proud parents, Felipe & Refugia Gaitan. For most of her youth, she and her family lived in small towns in South Texas, only having to pick up and move when her father’s job called for it. As luck would have it, her family eventually found their forever home in Fairfield in the early 1970’s. This is where Delma truly blossomed into the character, we all know and love. She made so many lifelong friends during those early years and went on to eventually graduate from Fairfield High School in 1978. Not long after, she married the love of her life, Darrell Wayne Gilley. Married for over 44 years, these two made a beautiful life together and were joined by the hip till the very end. They rounded out their family by welcoming a daughter, Carrie Gilley, and son, Darrell Wayne Gilley, Jr., during the 80’s. As their children grew up, both Delma and Wayne were very active in the sports their children excelled at. You’d often find them all practicing in the backyard together as one big happy family. Aside from her children, her grandsons, Jayden Cole Shelton and Langston Grant, were the center of her world since the days they were born. She even embraced her sister’s and niece’s children as her own, often attending their school functions and cheering them on every chance she could. Some of her favorite pastimes included cooking & baking for her family gatherings, gambling at the casino with her parents and friends, competitive sports, and soaking up the sun at the beach while in the presence of her most precious family.
Delma was the welcoming face of Dalia’s Mexican Restaurant, her family’s establishment that was open from 1994-2011. Whether she was waiting on customers, or cooking in the kitchen, there was nothing she couldn’t do. She would always tell us that the best food is the food made with love, and that’s why she was able to parlay her talents into a successful baking business not much later in life.
In 2015, we learned that Delma had stomach cancer after being very sick for some time. By the grace of God, He laid the path for healing when He guided her to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, gifted surgeons spent over 13 hours removing her stomach cancer. Even after being in remission, she remained close with that team of doctors and nurses over the coming years, often returning for checkups with baked goods in hand. Having battled cancer, Delma was a walking testimony of how God can work miracles in ones’ life. She often would share this story to those fighting their own battles to give them hope. She remained cancer-free for over 7 years.
Throughout the following years, Delma grew her baking business into a smalltown success. She would often hustle and bustle about town as she was delivering her tasty treats, proclaiming to everyone that she had an empire to run. That said, she was well known and well loved by our community. Always willing to help where she could. With her outgoing personality, she never met a stranger. Her warm and welcoming demeanor was truly one-of-a-kind. Delma was the epitome of a cheerful giver, the very reason 2 Corinthians 9:7 was written long before she made her way into this world.
During these last few months, Delma would often sing the praises for how well she was cared for by her daughter and son-in-law, Joe Babb. Upon learning that Delma’s cancer had returned, they uprooted their home and relocated to Fairfield so they could provide round the clock care for the matriarch of their family. Her son would often drop by in the mornings, and then again after work doting on her as she did for him for so many years. Her husband, her best friend, was her pillar of strength and constant companion. In the end, she found peace and happiness knowing she was surrounded by so much love, and the people she adored the most.
Delmas was preceded in death by parents, Felipe and Refugia Gaitan, and brothers: David and Phillip Gaitan.
She will be deeply missed and remembered by her husband, Wayne Gilley of Fairfield, TX; children, Carrie Gilley and son-in-law, Joe Babb of Fairfield, TX; Darrell Wayne Gilley and wife, Laurie of Fairfield, TX; sisters, Diana Acosta and husband, Anthony of San Antonio, TX; Dolly Carreno and husband, Alvaro of Fairfield, TX; Dorrie Cobb and husband, Paul of Fairfield, TX; grandchildren, Jayden Cole Shelton of Bend, OR and Langston Grant of Fairfield, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends.
Services will not be held as her family will be honoring her last wishes. Delma was insistent that everyone should remember her as she was in life…happy, healthy, positive, everyone’s friend on Facebook, encouraging, and always smiling. In lieu of flowers, consider a charitable donation, in Delma’s honor, to the Freestone Cancer Support Group: PO Box 1522, Fairfield, TX 75840.
Her unforgettable journey began in Karnes City, Texas, when she was born on July 20, 1959, to proud parents, Felipe & Refugia Gaitan. For most of her youth, she and her family lived in small towns in South Texas, only having to pick up and move when her father’s job called for it. As luck would have it, her family eventually found their forever home in Fairfield in the early 1970’s. This is where Delma truly blossomed into the character, we all know and love. She made so many lifelong friends during those early years and went on to eventually graduate from Fairfield High School in 1978. Not long after, she married the love of her life, Darrell Wayne Gilley. Married for over 44 years, these two made a beautiful life together and were joined by the hip till the very end. They rounded out their family by welcoming a daughter, Carrie Gilley, and son, Darrell Wayne Gilley, Jr., during the 80’s. As their children grew up, both Delma and Wayne were very active in the sports their children excelled at. You’d often find them all practicing in the backyard together as one big happy family. Aside from her children, her grandsons, Jayden Cole Shelton and Langston Grant, were the center of her world since the days they were born. She even embraced her sister’s and niece’s children as her own, often attending their school functions and cheering them on every chance she could. Some of her favorite pastimes included cooking & baking for her family gatherings, gambling at the casino with her parents and friends, competitive sports, and soaking up the sun at the beach while in the presence of her most precious family.
Delma was the welcoming face of Dalia’s Mexican Restaurant, her family’s establishment that was open from 1994-2011. Whether she was waiting on customers, or cooking in the kitchen, there was nothing she couldn’t do. She would always tell us that the best food is the food made with love, and that’s why she was able to parlay her talents into a successful baking business not much later in life.
In 2015, we learned that Delma had stomach cancer after being very sick for some time. By the grace of God, He laid the path for healing when He guided her to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, gifted surgeons spent over 13 hours removing her stomach cancer. Even after being in remission, she remained close with that team of doctors and nurses over the coming years, often returning for checkups with baked goods in hand. Having battled cancer, Delma was a walking testimony of how God can work miracles in ones’ life. She often would share this story to those fighting their own battles to give them hope. She remained cancer-free for over 7 years.
Throughout the following years, Delma grew her baking business into a smalltown success. She would often hustle and bustle about town as she was delivering her tasty treats, proclaiming to everyone that she had an empire to run. That said, she was well known and well loved by our community. Always willing to help where she could. With her outgoing personality, she never met a stranger. Her warm and welcoming demeanor was truly one-of-a-kind. Delma was the epitome of a cheerful giver, the very reason 2 Corinthians 9:7 was written long before she made her way into this world.
During these last few months, Delma would often sing the praises for how well she was cared for by her daughter and son-in-law, Joe Babb. Upon learning that Delma’s cancer had returned, they uprooted their home and relocated to Fairfield so they could provide round the clock care for the matriarch of their family. Her son would often drop by in the mornings, and then again after work doting on her as she did for him for so many years. Her husband, her best friend, was her pillar of strength and constant companion. In the end, she found peace and happiness knowing she was surrounded by so much love, and the people she adored the most.
Delmas was preceded in death by parents, Felipe and Refugia Gaitan, and brothers: David and Phillip Gaitan.
She will be deeply missed and remembered by her husband, Wayne Gilley of Fairfield, TX; children, Carrie Gilley and son-in-law, Joe Babb of Fairfield, TX; Darrell Wayne Gilley and wife, Laurie of Fairfield, TX; sisters, Diana Acosta and husband, Anthony of San Antonio, TX; Dolly Carreno and husband, Alvaro of Fairfield, TX; Dorrie Cobb and husband, Paul of Fairfield, TX; grandchildren, Jayden Cole Shelton of Bend, OR and Langston Grant of Fairfield, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends.
Services will not be held as her family will be honoring her last wishes. Delma was insistent that everyone should remember her as she was in life…happy, healthy, positive, everyone’s friend on Facebook, encouraging, and always smiling. In lieu of flowers, consider a charitable donation, in Delma’s honor, to the Freestone Cancer Support Group: PO Box 1522, Fairfield, TX 75840.