01/26/2026
John Gillis Lilly
1937 ~ 2026
John Gillis Lilly was born on December 31, 1937, in Sonora, California, in Tuolumne County, to Dorothy Margaret Gillis and Wilbur Evans Lilly. He was the eldest of three children and grew up surrounded by the rugged beauty and deep history of the Sierra foothills.
John spent his early years on Jackass Hill, a place rich with both character and heritage. His family lived in a small yellow house beside the famous Mark Twain cabin. Mark Twain had stayed there as a guest of John’s grandfathers, the Gillis brothers, and the story of that friendship was something John carried with pride. Growing up in that environment, John developed a deep sense of independence and respect for history, family, and hard work. He later lived on a ranch at the base of the hill, where his father mined for gold and the family often relied on their garden for meals. Those years shaped his strong work ethic and self-reliance.
After his parents divorced, John lived with his father and stepmother, Mirtie Lee Prewitt. His teenage years were marked by adventure, independence, and a quiet confidence that would later become leadership and discipline.
During his sophomore year of high school, John moved with his family from Mill Valley to Barstow, California. Though the move was difficult at first, Barstow would become the place where his life truly took shape.
It was at Barstow High School that John first saw Florence Catherine Martin. They both played in the school band, John on trumpet and Florence on flute. He noticed her immediately, and his determination to know her better became the beginning of a lifelong partnership.
John and Florence graduated together on June 15, 1956. Just two weeks later, on June 30, 1956, they were married in Las Vegas. They were eighteen years old and ready to build a future together.
They became the proud parents of two children, Leslie and Johnny, and built a family rooted in loyalty, strength, and devotion.
Shortly after marrying, John joined the United States Navy. He completed boot camp in San Diego, where he became a competitive boxer on the Navy Boxing Team. He attended Electrician School and later volunteered for submarine service, graduating from Submarine School in New London, Connecticut, on November 9, 1957.
John served as an electrician aboard the USS Capitaine, a World War II submarine that traveled throughout the Pacific, including Hawaii, Japan, and Hong Kong. He often said being an electrician was one of the most demanding roles on a submarine because nearly everything depended on electrical systems. It was dangerous, technical work, and he carried it out with discipline and pride.
He was honorably discharged from the Navy on August 31, 1962, after four years of active duty and two years in the reserves. That same day, he boarded a train back to Barstow to return to his family.
In 1965, John was accepted into the California Highway Patrol Academy. He graduated on April 26, 1966, beginning a distinguished 28-year career. He served in West Los Angeles and Malibu, joined the Motorcycle Patrol, and later became a Motorcycle Sergeant. Throughout his career, he earned multiple safety awards, was recognized in newspapers, and was known for his calm authority, fairness, and leadership.
While working full time, John completed his college education, graduating from La Verne College on April 6, 1973, with a bachelor’s degree in political science. His family proudly attended his graduation.
John later served as the personal driver for the Lieutenant Governor of California, a position he held for over two years. It was a role built on trust and responsibility, reflecting the high regard in which he was held. During this time, he passed the Sergeant’s exam and was promoted on December 2, 1981. Though invited to continue in the Lieutenant Governor’s service, John chose to return to field leadership so he could spend more time with his family.
He retired from the California Highway Patrol on December 31, 1992, his 55th birthday, concluding a career defined by honor, service, and respect.
In 1994, John and Florence moved to Alpine, Utah, where he became Chief of Police for Alpine and Highland. When Florence became ill, John stepped down from that role and continued serving as Public Safety Director before eventually leaving public service entirely to care for her full time.
He never remarried. Florence remained the love of his life, and his devotion to her defined his later years.
John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Florence, and his son, JP. He is survived by his daughter, Leslie, and her husband, Emerson; his daughter-in-law, Lisa; his twenty-one grandchildren: Autumn (and her husband Jonathan), Jacob, Joseph, Ammon (and his wife Wendy), Samuel (and his wife Marissa), Chandler (and his wife Jillian), Summer and her husband Camerson), Sunny, Amber (and her husband Jason), Cody (and his wife Ely), Felice, Joe, Michael, Tony (and his wife Anna), Stephen, David, Olivia, Kayla, Shane, Derek, and Sadie; and his 25 great-grandchildren: Laraugh, T’iisbáí, Rose, Elizabeth, Emma, Daniela, Rowan, Jacob, Raiden, Ammon Jr, Naatanii, LillyAnn, Rowan, Orion, Evie, Nigella, Johnny, Anna, Caitlyn, Eden, Jules, Esther, Cypress, Azure, and Jasper.
John Gillis Lilly lived a life shaped by service, loyalty, and quiet strength. He protected, led, and cared with a fierceness that earned the respect of all those that knew him. Whether in uniform, at home, or beside those he loved, he led a life that left every place it touched stronger than before.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11:00 am at Moyle Park Ward Chapel, located at 1125 East. Alpine Boulevard, Alpine Utah. A viewing will take place prior to the service from 9:30am to 10:30am. For those who are unable to attend in person, the service will be available to watch live online here: https://zoom.us/j/96135797499
Interment will follow at Alpine City Cemetery, 400 Grove Drive, Alpine, Utah.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.warenski.com
