Gordon F. Carley

Gordon F. Carley, 84, of Gering, died Friday, May 11, 2007, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Graveside Services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, May 14, at the Dalton Cemetery in Dalton, Neb. with Leon ""Bud"" Gillespie, CLP officiating. Dalton American Legion Post #301 will give military rites. Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. and Monday 9 a.m. to noon at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. Gordon was born in Gurley, Neb., March 9, 1923. He was the only child of Clarence J. and Mattie (Parsons) Carley. Later the family moved to Dalton where they purchased and ran the Dalton Telephone Company. After graduating from Dalton High School in 1941, he attended Chadron State College for a year before volunteering for the United States Navy. In 1943 he married Marcia Reid and they had one son, Gordon Lee. This marriage was terminated 21 years later. After being honorably discharged from the United States Navy, he returned to Dalton and helped his parents improve and operate the Dalton Telephone Company and Carley Electric Company. In 1964 he moved to Casper, Wyo. and married Lawana Shaul. He always said the following years were the happiest of his life. In 1986 they moved to Scottsbluff where they lived until moving to Gering in April of this year. He always had an avid interest in the Volunteer Firefighters. He was a member of the Dalton Fire Department and also served as Fire Chief. He was President of the North Platte Valley Firemen's Association and president of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firemen's Association. In 1964 he was granted the title of Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. He also enjoyed serving on the board of the Scottsbluff Rural Fire District. He was a charter and life member of the Dalton American Legion, Post No. 301, a 60 year member of the Masonic Lodge, a 50 year member of the of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firemen's Association, and belonged to the Elks Club. Survivors include Lawana, his wife of 42 years; son, Gordon Lee (Kay) Carley; grandchildren, Matthew Carley, Mark (Jackie) Carley, and Meredith (Bryan) McQuay, and great-grandchildren, Janessa Carley, Jeremy Carley, Peyton McQuay and Grant McQuay. His parents preceded him in death.