Gary Gene Gillis

He was born in Lemon Springs, N.C on June 27, 1937 to Wilbur and Ella Maude (Hall) Gillis. He was married to LaVerne Nunnery Gillis for 54 years.

Gary had a career in Sales for Belk and S & D Coffee, Inc. for 40 years. He attended Good Hope Baptist Church in Cary and enjoyed being a member of the OWLS group.

He had a passion for Bible study, bird watching and discussing the ups and downs of being a fan of the Atlanta Braves and UNC Tarheels. He led the life of a humble servant of the Lord. He served as a deacon for many years at Walstone Baptist Church in Fayetteville. In recent years, he enjoyed watching his great-nieces Morgan and Megan Hunter play volleyball, and spending time with his special friends Jordan and Chelsea Foster and their son Wade. He also enjoyed eating breakfast several days each week with his buddy, Wylie Nance.

He was preceded in death by his wife, LaVerne Nunnery Gillis, sisters Jessie Patterson and Roberta Paye, brothers Wilbur Marvin Gillis, Jr., William David Gillis and James Robert Gillis, Brother-in-law Arnold Nunnery and his wife Mary, and sister-in-law Joan Nunnery Pridgen, niece LaVerne Patterson Wright and nephews Paul Gillis, Pat Stewart and Delbert Patterson.

He is survived by daughter Dawn Gillis Brown and husband Jeff of Cary, son David Gillis and wife Petra of Stedman, grandsons Brad Gillis of Dunn and Brandon Gillis of Clayton, brother-in-law Ronald Nunnery of Stedman, nieces Renee Hunter and husband Jeff of Sanford, Janice Thomas and husband Danny of Lillington, Mary Ava Nunnery of Statesville, Brenda Coward and husband Buddy of Balsam, Skye Lanford of South Carolina, and Sheila Darrigan of Florida, nephews Blaine Nunnery of Eastover, Arnie Nunnery and wife, Jamie of Statesville, Dale Patterson of Broadway, and John Paye, Jr. of Florida. Numerous great-nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life for Gary will be held Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 Southeast Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511, followed by a reception at 2:00 PM.