Billy Gilkey

Billy Lynn Gilkey, age 81, of Clarksville, TN, passed away on October 16, 2022. He was born on January 30, 1941 in Nortonville, KY, and was the son of the late James and Elenora Gilkey.

Billy attended Christian County High School and later graduated from Austin Peay State University with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture. After graduating college and marrying his wife, he served in the Peace Corps in India and worked with the Agricultural Corps program in Mandsaur from 1966-68. After returning from India, Billy taught middle school and coached basketball in St. Charles, KY. He also worked for Kraft Foods as a Dairy Farm Specialist. Billy then founded Gilkey Realtors, Inc., where he was a broker agent for 40 years.

From a young age, Billy worked on the family farm in Durgin, KY. He loved his family deeply and enjoyed spending free time with them and his friends, being especially proud of his children and grandson. He was an avid APSU basketball fan, frequently attending games with his wife. His favorite activity aside from basketball was fishing with his son and grandson, and also his friend, Earnest Smith, who commented that Billy was the best fisherman he ever knew. He even had a fishing motto, which encapsulates his character: “When the fish are biting, do you want my pole?”

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sandra E. Moore Gilkey; children Manesha Lynn Gilkey and Kip Chaa Gilkey; siblings Joy (Robert) Wilson, Maybeth (Mike) Smith, and Allen Wayne (Vicki) Gilkey; grandson, Dylan James Gilkey; as well as several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 P.M. on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at Sango United Methodist Church, located at 3301 Sango Rd., Clarksville, TN. Visitation will be held from 1 P.M. until the hour of service in the sanctuary.

All gifts of condolences will need to be sent to Sango United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sango United Methodist Church, 3301 Sango Rd, Clarksville, TN 37043.

Please visit Billy's online guestbook at www.sykesfuneralhome.com and share a memory with the family.