Memorial for MLMS teacher tomorrow
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

Maude Laird Middle School and Kilgore Intermediate School students this week are grappling with the death Sunday of long-time teacher Shannon Utzman Gilley.

Students returning to school yesterday morning were greeted by flags at half-staff and athletes at Monday's youth baseball games wore black armbands in memory of their teacher. Counselors are both schools were available to help students deal with

Utzman, 38, teacher died early Sunday morning as a result of injuries sustained Saturday evening as a motorcycle passenger in a two-vehicle collision.

Gilley was pronounced dead at 1 a.m. Sunday by Talyna Carlson, Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace. Shannon Gilley had been brought to the Longview hospital with her husband, Anthony Shane Gilley, also of Kilgore, who had been driving the motorcycle.

A report by Gary Ketchum, Kilgore Police sergeant, said police were called to the site of the collision at 6:03 p.m. Saturday.

The collision occurred between the Gilleys' 2008 Harley- Davidson motorcycle and a 1987 Dodge pick up, driven by Kerry Richard Robinson, of Longview, at the intersection of FM 349 and Pitner Road - near an E-Z Mart convenience store.

Robinson told police his truck had overheated and he was attempting to make a left turn into E-Z Mart when his vehicle collided with the Gilleys' motorcycle.

The police report indicates that the Gilleys were eastbound on FM 349 and Robinson was westbound.

Shane Gilley remains in serious condition today at Good Shepherd Medical Center, with head injuries. He has in an induced coma until pressure caused by swelling in the injured area is relieved. Ronnie Moore, Kilgore director of public safety, said the last report from Good Shepherd was that some pressure had been relieved.

Robinson required no medical treatment.

Ronnie Moore, Kilgore's director of public safety, said samples have been sent to an outof town lab for drug and alcohol testing but that results would not been known for two to three weeks. Police department would not say whose samples are being tested because the investigation is not concluded.

No charges have been filed.

Robin Carrell, a former teacher and district substitute teacher, has been hired to take Gilley's classes for the remainder of the semester.

Services for Gilley are pending at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore. Visitation is scheduled 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight. A memorial service is at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow at Dodson Auditorium. A complete obituary is on Page 4 of today's newspaper.