Roy Golightly

Roy Golightly passed away in Lincoln, Nebr. on Dec. 13, 2013, the result of advanced Alzheimer's disease. He was born in Pueblo, Colo., on Sept. 21, 1928, and lived in the Denver area all his life until moving to Lincoln in 2002 to be closer to family. Roy was a lifelong drag racing enthusiast and was the first dragster in Colorado to reach 160 mph in 1955 with a car that he built himself. A charter member of The Strippers, a group of drag racers in the Denver area, he was held in high esteem by all his drag-racing friends. He retired from racing in 1965, after reaching a speed of 216 mph, and was inducted into the Colorado Drag Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. He retired from Burlington Northern, now BNSF, after 40 years of service. He served in the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Lucille, Lincoln, and son Michael, Long Beach, Calif. stepdaughter and son-in-law Carol and Michael Jess, Lincoln, and stepgrandson, Adam Jess, Frisco, Colo. He was preceded in death by an infant son, his first wife Virginia, and two stepgrandchildren, Kelly Jess Edwards and Scott Jess. The family requests memorials be made in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer's Association-Great Plains Chapter. Roy wished to be cremated. There will be no service, but the family welcomes friends to celebrate his life from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 2840 Kucera Drive in Lincoln.