Louis Ray Gilbert June 18, 1943 - February 17, 2026

Louis Ray Gilbert Sr., 82, Kansas City, Missouri, made that final train ride home to be with his boys on the evening of February 17, 2026.

Lou was born in Weaubleau, Missouri, on June 18, 1943. He was the only son and middle child to Louis Russell and Ruby May King-Gilbert, of Osceola, Missouri. When Lou’s dad came home from WWII, he and Ruby moved their family, which consisted of Anita May, Louis Ray, and Barbara Kay, to El Dorado Springs, Missouri, where Lou attended first and second grade. From there, his family moved to Clinton, Missouri for a short time and then settled in Osceola, where he completed his academic education in the spring of 1961, as a High School graduate of Osceola, Missouri. During his high school education, he worked for his dad at the Standard Gas Station, and took part in FFA, and of course was a part of the band from junior high through high school where he played the tuba. While playing in the band, he sat next to a girl, who he married in the summer of 1962. Three months later, the two moved to Kansas City where he began working for the railroad, then moved to Springfield Missouri, where he continued working for the railroad until his retirement after 42 years. Along with working for the railroad, he and his family ran the Springfield News Leader paper route out of Osceola, Missouri.

From that marriage, four little people were brought into this world. His son, Louis Ray Gilbert Jr., who married Vicki Wilson and had the first of the grandkids, twin granddaughters; his daughter, Lori La Dawn Gilbert, who married Jerri King; his son, Lynn Alton Gilbert, who married Angela Trogdon-Gilbert, who blessed Lou with his third granddaughter; his daughter, Liberty Arianne Gilbert-Long, who married Doug Long, who finished out the family with two more granddaughters, and his first grandson.

Lou had many interests, which included woodworking, whittling, leatherworking, and working with oil and acrylic painting that can be found at various family members’ houses. Lou loved singing bluegrass music, which he had done from a very young age with his family. He loved playing guitar and writing music. In his later years, he traveled and played at many festivals and local venues and sang at the Cowboy Church where he attended. He loved making people smile through his music.

During the last part of his life in Springfield, Missouri, Lou worked with his son Lynn, at Gilbert Construction for over 17 years, where they became very close, as subcontractors for Lowes.

Lou was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Ruby Gilbert; his sons, Louis Gilbert Jr., and Lynn Gilbert; his wife of 39 years, Joyce Taylor-Gilbert.

Louis is survived by his daughters, Lori Gilbert (Jerri), Seneca, Missouri, Liberty Gilbert-Long (Douglas) Springfield, Missouri; sisters, Anita Bennett, and Barbara Prike, Osceola, Missouri; stepdaughters, Susan Allen, Texas, and Sharon Hemphill (Derek), Springfield, Missouri; fourteen grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Lou will always be remembered as a loving husband, dad, grandpa, papa, brother, uncle and friend. He will be loved and missed, but we know he is in a better place. Forever love you, Lou.

In lieu of flowers, Lou wanted donations to be made to “Play It Forward” (SWMO), a place that helps underprivileged people learn music. Donations can be left in care of Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home: P.O. Box 384 Osceola, Missouri 64776.