A resident of Topsy for much of her young adult life, she was born in DeQuincy, LA on September 4, 1930; the daughter of Thomas Oliver Busby and Mary Louise Bruney. She was the wife of the late William Elbert Gilley, and a faithful member of Eastwood Pentecostal Church, Lake Charles, LA.
Affectionately known as “Sister”, she was very active in her church, teaching Sunday school, working BBQs, and visiting the elderly. She valued her time at Barbe Elementary as a cafeteria worker and at St. Patrick’s Hospital as a nurse’s aide. Along with her husband, she led a busy life managing investment properties and a child daycare for many years.
She cherished getaways with friends and family to her fishing camp at Toledo Bend. She also enjoyed sewing, praying, reading her Bible, or preparing something in the kitchen. Sister was always cooking something!
She is survived by one son, Kenneth Dwight Gilley (Betty) of Lake Charles, LA; two daughters, Glenda LeJeune (Craig) of Sulphur, LA and Lisa Dial (Artie) of Lake Charles, LA; one daughter-in-law, Germaine Gilley of Sulphur, LA; nine grandchildren, Dwight Gilley (Debbie) of Lake Charles, LA, Racquel Williams (Avery) of Moss Bluff, LA, Tiffany Bonnette (Josh) of Moss Bluff, LA, Theresa Chaisson (Ken) of Sulphur, LA, Bobbie Gilley of Sulphur, LA, Jared Gilley of Nederland, TX, Kevin Gilley (Tearany) of DeRidder, LA, Travis Gilley of Sulphur, LA; Haley Huber (Kyle) of Houston, TX; 32 great-grandchildren; and 7 great-great grandchildren, as well as her sister-in-law Dianne Busby.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers, Wilmer Miles Busby of LeBleu Settlement, LA, John David "Snooky" Busby of Sulphur, LA, and Thomas Ray Busby of Topsy, LA; one son, William Keith Gilley of Longville, LA; one granddaughter, Robin Trahan of Lafayette, LA; and four great-grandchildren.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Harbor Hospice and Resthaven Nursing Home for their care of Blanche.
The family would like to invite friends and relatives to Hixson Funeral Home Chapel of Lilies on Friday, June 21, 2024, for visitation beginning at 5 pm until 8 pm. Visitation will resume at Eastwood Pentecostal Church in Lake Charles, LA, at 9 am until the time of service at 10 am. Blanche will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Creel Cemetery in Reeves, LA. Funeral services will be officiated by Pastor Aaron Lopez, Pastor Brent Keating, and Matthew Ewing.
