Hugh Marshall Gailey

Hugh Marshall Gailey of Gilroy, CA was born January 9th, 1929 to parents Ralph Edwin Gailey and Ruth Howard Gailey. Mr. Gailey died on December 23rd, 2020 at his home. He was 18 days shy of 92.

Mr. Gailey was a ranch/farm child with two older siblings Morton and Elizabeth. Mr. Gailey sang in the Nebraska State Choir as a youth touring throughout the State of Nebraska. He joined the U.S. Navy at 16 (the Navy believed he was 17) on a deferred basis and reported at age 17 for training in 1946 and was a radioman for two years. Mr. Gailey helped clear the Philippine Islands of the Japanese soldiers who remained entrenched following the end of WWII and was shot in the leg during an encounter with those troops. He received the Purple Heart. Mr. Gailey attended Wayne State University in Nebraska where he met Barbara Dawe who became his wife after they both graduated in 1954. Mr. Gailey's degree was in Mathematics and Science with a strong background in chemistry and physics. Following becoming married, he worked for the Veterans Administration for two years and then was employed by the Nash Finch Company as an accountant. In 1959 he was offered a job with Lockheed Missile and Space Company in Sunnyvale, CA by a referral, and he and Barbara moved, with their first child James, to Mountain View, CA. Hugh was a very accomplished scientist, mathematician, and analyst for 34 years at Lockheed Martin, retiring in 1993.

Hugh enjoyed singing throughout his life, and sang at various churches and colleges before retiring from it at age 85. He was raised as a Presbyterian and later joined the Gilroy Methodist Church with his wife where they had many friends and were heavily involved in various church activities. He was very loved by his family and friends and will be missed by many many people.

Hugh is survived by his two sons James and Howard; as well as four grandchildren, Ada, Gianna, Marco, and Fabrizio Gailey; his daughter-in-law Gina, the wife of James; and many cousins. He was a loving, good-natured, and very helpful individual with many friends who looked out for others as he learned growing up on a ranch/farm with neighbors far apart. He helped his parents following his time in the Navy with the post-depression era, raced cars in Europe, and then attended Wayne State University.

Hugh was preceded in death by his brother and sister who were 10 and 12 years older, respectively, and by his wife in 2014.

The interment will be at the Gilroy Gavilan Hills Cemetery Park on Saturday, January 16th at 11am, and will be conducted by Habing Funeral Home, with prayers and proceedings offered by Pastor Hwapyoung Kang of the Gilroy Methodist Church. It is asked that those that attend keep a very respectful distance from other couples and groups in conformance with current California Covid-19 related laws banning gatherings. Distances of much greater than 6 feet would be appreciated. In order to pay respects at the interment site, please do so in isolation after the proceedings have concluded in conformance with current laws. Later this year the family intends to hold a memorial for Hugh, after the pandemic has hopefully passed, at the Gilroy Methodist Church. This will be announced in the newspaper as well.

Published in Gilroy Dispatch · January 13, 2021