Gala Daley

Gala Williams Daley October 20, 1957 - July 22, 2026

Gala Williams Daley passed away on July 22,2026 in her Bakersfield, California, home after along illness. Gala was born on October 20, 1957, in Christiansburg, Virginia, to the late Lyman and Betty Duncan Williams of Hoges Chapel, Virginia. She lived in Giles County, Virginia, for many years, where she was employed by Hoechst Celanese and made many wonderful friends. Following the passing of her husband, Kenny Sharp, she found love again and married Bob Daley of Indian Trail, North Carolina. They lived in North Carolina for several years before moving to Bakersfield, California, where they resided for 20 years. 

Gala is survived by her daughter, Deanna Martin Johnson (Dylan) and her precious granddaughter, Taylor Starbuck, of San Francisco, California; her brothers, Jay Williams (Becky) of Pembroke, Virginia, and Garry Williams (Carolyn) of Newport, Virginia. Known as “Auntie,” she is also survived by her nephew, Jessie Williams, and her nieces, Carrie Williams Dernar, Rachel Williams Mann, and Nicki Williams Page, along with many great-nieces and nephews. 

A spiritual woman who loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, Gala was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved being a wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend, but her favorite role of all was being “Gigi” to Taylor. Known for her boundless generosity, Gala had a knack for turning an ordinary day into a special one and making big moments even brighter. She will be dearly missed by a large extended family, countless friends—including Cecil and Bonnie Martin—and her beloved dogs, Baxter, JJ, and Tinkerbell.  

A memorial service celebrating Gala’s life will beheld in Virginia later this year. Gala, together with her beloved husband, Bob, who preceded her in death earlier this year, will be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico in Triangle, Virginia. Bob is survived by his daughters, Megan Daley Wallacean Elizabeth Daley Hovater, both of Monroe, North Carolina, along with their husbands, children, and grandchildren.

 In Gala’s honor, the family asks that you buy yourself flowers or lemons to enjoy, do a kind act for someone you love, and take time to treat yourself to something special