Gale A. Pedley

Gale A. Pedley, known lovingly by his family as "Deda," passed away on Monday, July 21, 2025, at the age of 85, after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Gale was born on January 4, 1940, in McLean County, near the Knobs, to Harry and Bertha Carter Pedley. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his siblings Harry J. Pedley Jr., John W. Pedley, Marvin A. Pedley, Ward O. Pedley, and sister Lela Mae Conrad.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Shirley J. Pedley; his son, Gary A. Pedley and wife Lori; daughter, Sharon K. Warren and husband Vaughn; son, Randy E. Pedley and partner Laurie Drake; brother, Bobby G. Pedley; sister, Janie York; as well as his cherished grandchildren Matthew V. Warren, Derik A. Pedley, Zak A. Pedley and wife Stacy, Ashley E. Warren, Perri M. Brown and husband Isaac, and Trayce A. Pedley and wife Faith. He also leaves behind great-grandchildren Karter and Kam Pedley (children of Zak), and Baxley and Baker Brown (children of Perri); and many nieces and nephews. Special family friends Joni Sims and Sharon Payne Pedley were considered part of the family and were deeply loved by Gale.

Gale's legacy of service, hard work, and devotion to family will forever live on in the hearts of those who were privileged to know him. He was a longtime member of the Apollo Heights Baptist Church and was dedicated to his community as a volunteer with the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department for 52 years, serving as Chairman of the Board for 12 of those years.

A passionate outdoorsman, Gale was an avid hunter and fisherman. He spent countless hours hunting deer, turkey, dove, quail, rabbit, and squirrel with his sharp eye and steady hand. He also enjoyed fishing with family and friends, particularly for bluegill and crappie, and was known for his expert skills with a deep fryer when it came time to share his catch at the dinner table.

Gale had a love for Stock Car racing that went beyond just watching it on TV. Along with his brother Harry, he was involved in working on the #100 Chevy. He was a dedicated crew member for his sons' Late Model Stock Cars, helping them compete at venues like Kentucky Motor Speedway and Nashville Fairgrounds, as well as traveling in the NASCAR Elite Division Southeast Series in the 90s and 2000s. He also lent his expertise to local drivers like Michael Canary and his son Luke, working on their dirt track cars.

In addition to his love of the outdoors and racing, Gale was a skilled and respected concrete finisher and contractor. He worked in the concrete industry for 65 years, operating his own business from 1984 until his retirement in 2022. He was especially proud of building his home with his own hands alongside his son Randy in 1984 and, in the last decade of his life, building a cabin on his farm where he spent time hunting, fishing, and making memories with loved ones.

Gale's life was one of devotion to his family, his community, and his passions. His contributions will never be forgotten, and he will always be remembered as a man of integrity, generosity, and a steadfast love for those around him.

A funeral service to honor Gale's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at James H. Davis Funeral Home and Crematory. Interment will follow at Scherer Cemetery. The family will receive friends for visitation from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday and from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Gale's memory be made to the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department, 159 Highway 1554, Owensboro, KY 42301 or at Venmo @Stanley-Ky-Fire-Dept. or Hospice of Western Kentucky, 3419 Wathens Crossing, Owensboro, KY 42301.