G.L. "Pete" Gilleland, 92, of Dawsonville, died June 27, 2011.

Born Oct. 10, 1918 to the late Boyd and Sallie Gilleland, he was a lifelong resident of Dawson County.

Mr. Gilleland was a retired poultry farmer and served 37 years as an elected official for the City of Dawsonville, many of them as mayor.

Pete was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, a member of the First Baptist Church of Dawsonville and Etowah Lodge #222 F&AM.

His son, Freddie Gilleland; granddaughter, Molly English; sisters, Nell Burt and Susie Bannister; and a brother, Carlton Gilleland, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 73 years, Bernice Parks Gilleland of Dawsonville; children, Sandra English, Tim Gilleland, both of Dawsonville; brother, Gene Gilleland of Dawsonville; grandchildren, Rebecca Bourlakas, Joshua English, Jade Gilleland, Coby Gilleland; great-grandchildren, Benjamin English, Tess English, Kate Bourlakas, Maggie Bourlakas; various other relatives also survive.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Private interment services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis - Reaching Out Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 870747, Stone Mountain, GA 30087.

Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville is in charge of the arrangements.