Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Oliver M. Gilley
Washington Daily Times
Friday 31 Jan 1958
Veale Twp. Man, 84, Loses Life In Fire
An 84-year-old Veale township
man was burned to death Thursday night in his home one-half mile southeast
of Cumback. Oliver M. Gilley, R.R. 4, city, was burned beyond recognition
by a blaze that destroyrd his farm home about 7 p.m. last night. The
fire started around 6:30 o'clock and wasn't discovered until the house
was nearly gutted by the flames. Robert E. Cornelius and his wife Carolyn,
who lived with Mr. Gilley, were in Washington visiting friends at the
time of the conflagration. Mrs. Cornelius is a granddaughter of the deceased.
The young couple told authorities they had left the house about 6 p.m.
enroute to this city and Mr. Gilley was sitting on the studio couch smoking
his pipe at that time. The fire had been "fixed" in the furnance and
the thermostat was turned down. Later Byford Carnahan and another neighbor
discovered the blaze and rushed to the house. They ran to the southeast
corner of the house, broke open a window, but failed to see Mr. Gilley
in his bedroom. The neighbors were unable to enter the house due to the
intense heat. The West End Fire Station was called at 8:10 p.m. and a
fire truck was dispatched to the fire. When firemen arrived the house
was gutted by flames and the walls had fallen in. The firemmmen saved
an outbuilding from the fire and cooled the ashes of the house so that
workers could search for the elderly victim. Mr. Gilley's charred remains
were recovered from the basement of the house around 11 o'clock. He had
apparently fallen through the floor when the house fell in. Authorities
feel the fire was caused by a match. Friends and relatives told officers
Mr. Gilley had been in the habit of lighting his pipe and then "giving
the match a toss toward the door." A wool rug was in front of the door
and it is believed a match caught the rug afire and started the blaze.
An electrician had recently installed several electrical outlets in the
house and had reported the wiring to be in good shape. Oliver Morton
Gilley was born in Daviess county on July 29, 1873, the son of Job and
Elza Gilley. He married Mamie Osmon on September 5, 1901 and she preceded
him in death on November 19, 1941. The deceased was a retired farmer
and a member of the Aikman Creek Baptist church. He had been in poor
health for several months. Surviving are six children: Mrs. Maude Fitzgerald,
Noblesville; Laverne Gilley, Mrs. Carrie Parker, Ray Gilley, Mrs. Donald
(Helen) Cornelius, and Herman Gilley, all of Anderson. Two daughters
and a son preceded him in death. There are 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Also surviving is a half-brother, Ivy Gilley, and a half-sister, Mrs.
Earl(Mary) Robinson, both of R.R. 4, Washington. Funeral services will
be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Aikman Creek Baptist church with burial
in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the V.L. Poindexter chapel
after 7 p.m. Saturday. The casket will not be opened at anytime.
Contributed by: Sandra Johnson