Gail "Austin" Pilley

Gail “Austin” Pilley, age 65, passed away on February 2, 2023, surrounded by family, after a long battle with lung cancer. Austin was born June 4, 1957, in Roswell, New Mexico, to James Edward and Patricia Ann Pilley. As a young boy, Austin enjoyed helping on the family farm caring for animals. In 1967, Austin moved with his parents and two older siblings, Jayne and Edward, to San Diego, where he later attended Mount Miguel High School. Austin spent his career working as an adult caregiver. He spent over 30 years working in and later managing rest homes owned by the Pilley Family. After the Pilley Family sold its last rest home, Austin began providing in-home care to seniors as an independent home care professional and continued this work up until the time of his death. Although Austin never married and never had any children of his own, he was very involved with his family and his community. An artist at heart, Austin was trained in the art of Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement) and was a prominent member of the Ikenobō school in San Diego. He was also very skilled at making stained glass, restoring as well as crafting many beautiful pieces for friends and family. An enthusiastic gardener, Austin collected and cultivated hundreds of rare and tropical plants and flowers. Austin was a true dog lover and is survived by his two beloved dogs, Joy and Molly. Austin is also survived by two nieces, Sonya Duran and Kathleen Pilley Lawrence; two nephews, James Pilley and Chris Pilley; three grandnieces, Anniston Lawrence, Hailey Pilley, and Olivia Pilley, and three grandnephews, Dylan Weathered, Ezra Lawrence, and Tristan Lawrence. His older siblings Jayne Anne Pilley and Edward Charles Pilley passed away in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Austin is dearly loved by his family, who pray he finds much peace and comf