CLYDE EUGENE LILLY AGE 86 OF SHADY SPRING, DIED EARLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025, AT CAMC GENERAL HOSPITAL IN CHARLESTON, WV FOLLOWING A STROKE.

HE WAS THE SON OF THE LATE CLARENCE CLYDE LILLY AND ABBIE THELMA LILLY OF FLAT TOP.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF 65 YEARS, ZELLA MARGARET CLARK LILLY, AND HIS CHILDREN CINDY DUTRA OF FLAT TOP, DAVID LILLY OF FLAT TOP, JASON LILLY OF SHADY SPRING AND MARY WYLIE AND HER HUSBAND ROBERT OF BECKLEY, BROTHER-IN-LAW THOMAS CLARK AND HIS WIFE ANN OF SHADY SPRING, JOHN CLARK OF PINEY VIEW AND HIS WIFE SUSAN. GRANDCHILDREN, BRIAN MCKINNEY OF COOL RIDGE AND HIS WIFE YU FAWN, JONATHAN DUTRA OF SALISBURY NC, ANDREW WYLIE AND HIS WIFE BRITTNEY OF BECKLEY, MATTHEW WYLIE OF BECKLEY, MAKINZIE LILLY OF FLATTOP AND DANIEL LILLY OF FLAT TOP. GREATGRANDCHILDREN KAYLA, EMMA, KYLER, MADISON, LUNA AND HARRISON. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDE STEP GRANDCHILDREN TERRY DUTRA AND STEPHANIE KUHLER AND MANY COUSINS, NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

IN ADDITION TO HIS PARENTS, HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY A BROTHER CLINTON ROVEYLILLY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, AN INFANT SISTER ANNA MAE LILLY, A SON-IN-LAW, CARL DUTRA, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
CYNTHIA LILLY, MOTHER-IN-LAW ANNA JUNE CLARK AND FATHER-INLAW
CHARLES ERSKINE CLARK.

EUGENE GRADUATED FROM SHADY SPRING HIGH SCHOOL IN 1956. HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE FFA AND PLAYED TROMBONE IN THE SHADY SPRING HIGH SCHOOL BAND. HE ALSO PLAYED GUITAR AND SANG COUNTRY MUSIC WITH HIS BROTHER ROVEY AND FRIEND RICHARD ROSE ON WJLS RADIO STATION IN THE 1950'S. HE BRIEFLY ATTENDED CONCORD COLLEGE IN ATHENS, WV, BUT LATER IN LIFE ENDED UP GRADUATING FROM WEST VIRGINIA TECH IN
MONTGOMERY, WV AND RETIRED AS A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL TEACHER FOR RALEIGH COUNTY SCHOOLS WHERE HE TAUGHT MACHINE SHOP AND APPLIED MATH. HE LOVED TEACHING HIS STUDENTS AND ALWAYS WENT THAT EXTRA MILE TO NOT ONLY HELP THEM ACADEMICALLY, BUT TO HELP THEM WITH JOB PLACEMENT AS WELL. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE VOCATIONAL
SCHOOL ELECTRIC CAR PROJECT IN 1995 AND WAS HONORED FOR HELPING WITH THE BUILDING AND DESIGN OF THE PROJECT. HE WAS A BAND BOOSTER FOR SHADY SPRING JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 1970'S AND WORKED THE CONCESSION STAND DURING MANY GAMES.

BEFORE BECOMING A TEACHER, EUGENE WORKED AS A MACHINIST FOR SCOTTISH TOOL AND DIE IN CLEVELAND, OHIO AND AS A TOOL AND DIE MAKER AT ANSCO TOOL AND DIE IN PARMA, OHIO. HE WORKED AS A MACHINIST FOR LONG AIRDOX IN OAK HILL, AND CAM RAL CHAIN IN BECKLEY. HE ALSO OPENED HIS OWN BUSINESS AND RAN SHADY SPRING GRINDING SERVICE
OUT OF HIS GARAGE FOR A FEW YEARS. AFTER RETIREMENT, HE BRIEFLY WORKED AT FALCON MACHINERY IN MABSCOTT.

EUGENE WAS AN ACTIVE BOARD MEMBER OF THE LILLY REUNION FOR MANY YEARS AND HELPED TO MAINTAIN THE GROUNDS. HE LOVED TO PLAY HIS GUITAR ON COUSINS NIGHT. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SHADY SPRING AND WAS A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOLS, A CHOIR MEMBER, AND TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL. HE ALSO HELPED TO MAINTAIN THE GROUNDS AT CAMP GILEAD. EUGENE LOVED THE LORD AND HIS LOVE FOR JESUS REFLECTED IN HIS EVERYDAY LIFE.

EUGENE ENJOYED FARMING, HUNTING AND WORKING IN THE GARDEN. HE RAISED COWS AND CUT HAY. HE LOVED WORKING ON THE FAMILY FARM AT FLAT TOP AND ALWAYS HAD A PROJECT OF SOME KIND TO OCCUPY HIS TIME WHETHER IT WAS SAWING WOOD, FIXING FENCE OR BRUSH HOGGING THE FIELDS. HE WAS ALWAYS SINGING OR WHISTLING A GOSPEL TUNE. HE WAS A DEDICATED HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER. HE NEVER KNEW A STRANGER. HE COULD START UP A CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE HE MET. HE WILL BE DEARLY MISSED BY ALL
WHO KNEW AND LOVED HIM.

SERVICES WILL BE AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SHADY SPRING, 152 FLAT TOP ROAD, SHADY SPRING, WV ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13th . FAMILY VIEWING WILL BE FROM 12PM TO 1 PM. OPEN VISTATION WILL BE FROM 1 PM TO 2 PM AND THE FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE AT 2 PM WITH THE REVERAND JACK BARBER OFFICIATING. FAMILY MEMBERS WILL SERVE AS PALLBEARERS. AFTER CREMATION, REMAINS WILL BE PLACED AT THE FREDDIE LILLY CEMETARY AT FLATTOP, WV. GRAVESIDE RITES AND BURIAL OF REMAINS WILL BE HELD AT A LATER DATE IN THE SPRING.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, ANY MEMORIAM DONATION MAY BE MADE TO THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SHADY SPRING, P.O. BOX 1291, SHADY SPRING, WV 25918.