Country music icon and pioneer of the Urban Cowboy movement Mickey Gilley died last May 7 in Branson, Missouri. He had been experiencing deteriorating health months before his death to a point that he had to cancel all of his May performances and reschedule at a later date. He really wanted to reenergize first so that he could get back on stage healthy and meet his fans. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to follow through on his plans to see them again. He was 86.
After the news of his passing circulated online, there was an outpour of love and support for the family. Additionally, fans were also waiting for the details of his memorial service.
Last May 13, the official Facebook page of the late singer updated fans with the details. In the photo uploaded, there will be a celebration of Mickey Gilley’s life on May 27, 1 pm at the Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre located on Country Blvd., Branson, Missouri. There will be reserved seating for family and close friends of the Gilley family, while the rest of the remaining limited seats will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. The whole event will also be live-streamed through Mickey’s official Facebook page and YouTube channel for fans who won’t be able to attend. The links will be posted soon so stay tuned for that.
CMT also reports that later this summer, there will be three additional memorials that will be held to honor Mickey Gilley. There will be a public memorial in Pasadena, Texas, where his first honky-tonk bar and the largest in the world was first built. Another one will be at the home of country music, Nashville, Tennessee. Lastly, a private service will be held in Ferriday, Louisiana, where he spent his childhood.
And in lieu of flowers, Gilley’s family requests that donations be made to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary or any animal shelter of choice.