Gerald "Pete" Lilly

Gerald "Pete" Lilly, 70, of Lufkin, was born November 13, 1939 in Nacogdoches, Texas, the son of the late Bessie Mae (Reed) and John Wilson Lilly. He passed away Friday, October 8, 2010 in a local hospital.

Pete retired from the United States Navy, where he was a PR1 Parachute Rigger. He enjoyed cooking, baking, shopping, reading, and visiting with friends at "Pete's Place." He was a perennial favorite of "The Taste of Lufkin." Pete was a business man. He owned Pete and Jerry's Upholstery, Longhorn Leathers, where he made BMX Bicycle Racing uniforms, and Lufkin Screen Graphics. He opened "Pete's Place" in January 1997, which still operates today.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Edwina Gilbert Lilly; son, Jerry Lilly; daughter and son-in-law, Tiege and Curtis Greening; daughter, Sonja Gale Lilly; grandchildren, Michael Nathan, Jarrod Greening, Tonja Childers, Jessica Greening, Elizabeth Summers and Trenton Greening; great-grandchildren, Ashton Childers, Anna Greening, Madalyn Nathan, Aleyse Nathan and Kaleb Nathan; and a number of nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Pete was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters.

Pallbearers will be Terry Diffey, Elton Smith, Kip Stone, Marco Bautista, Jarrod Greening, and Ricky Gilbert.

Services for Pete will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 12, 2010 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Bob Harbuck officiating. Interment will follow in the Gilbert Chapel Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at Gipson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com

Gipson Funeral Home; directors