Carless "Roland" Gilbert, Jr.

Carless "Roland" Gilbert, Jr. was born April 3, 1942 at home in Oakland, AR to CR "Coke" Gilbert, Sr. and Connis McCracken Gilbert. After graduating from Westport High School in Kansas City, he joined the Army Reserves, training at Fort Polk, LA, proudly fulfilling his service commitment to our nation.

After learning the drywall trade at G & W Drywall from his father, he and his wife, Marilyn Gregory Gilbert, moved to Mountain Home to establish Gilbert Drywall in 1964. 

Recognizing the growth potential of the Mountain Home area in 1971, he also established R & R Cabinetry with his brother, Ron Gilbert, and later founded Quality Homes Construction building residential homes in Southern Meadows, Northern Hills, and Indian Creek.

Roland was a member of the Home Builders Association and enjoyed contributing to the development of Mountain Home neighborhoods by building over 100 homes to the delight of new families moving to the area.

As a young man, Roland discovered his love of cars, Elvis and card games of any type. His first prize purchase was a 1955 Chevy which, unbeknownst to him, was "borrowed" by his younger brother, Ed, only to "burn the rubber off the tires" that night!

Roland, always known for his frugal nature, gladly paid for XM Radio in his cars just so he could keep the music on the Elvis channel no matter who in the car begged him to change it!

Roland’s love of sports and competition was evident by the amount of time he spent coaching his boys in sports and watching his grandchildren participate in football, basketball, baseball and softball along with cheerleading and dance teams. As busy as he was at work, he always checked the grandkids’ practice schedules and game schedules to see as much ball as possible.

An avid card player, Roland enjoyed poker night and Texas Hold’em with his family and a ruckus game of UNO with his competitive grandchildren who were willing to cheat in order to beat their grandpa.

Roland enjoyed picking up his grandchildren from school and taking them to Dairy Queen for Blizzards as often as he could. Roland tried to convince the family that it was the grandkids’ idea, but mostly it was understood that it was just an excuse to eat another Blizzard! 

The Gilbert family would like to thank the wonderful, loving staff at Sycamore Springs as well as the competent and compassionate staff at Baxter Health Hospital for caring for Roland.

Roland is survived by his children, Connie Ann Sales of Kansas City, MO, Tony (Sally) Gilbert of Mountain Home, AR, Terri (Kent) Holder of Nixa, MO, and Todd (Jodi Strother)Gilbert of Mountain Home, AR. 

He is survived by his eleven grandchildren, Amanda Kunze, Brandon Sales, Jake Strother, Buck Gilbert, Hanna Brazeal, Grace Gilbert-Wilmath, Kate Gilbert, Wyatt Gilbert, Anna Gilbert, Ella Holder and Rhett Gilbert and seven great-grandchildren as well as his nieces, Angie Gilbert and Jessica Gilbert, and nephew, Kirk Gilbert, and a host of cousins. 

He is survived locally by his brother, Ron Gilbert, and sisters-in-law, Carolyn Gilbert and Joan Gilbert. He was preceded in death by his parents, Coke Gilbert and Connis Gilbert as well as his brother, Ed Gilbert.

Visitation for Roland Gilbert will be at Kirby & Family Funeral & Cremation Services on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 10:00am until 11:30 am, followed by his funeral service at 11:30 am at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be private at Baxter Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Buck Gilbert, Wyatt Gilbert, Rhett Gilbert, Kirk Gilbert, Cody Wilmath and Jack Brazeal. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ron Gilbert, Jake Strother, Roger Morgan, David Bettenhausen, Jim McCracken and Brandon Sales. Memorials may be made to Baxter Health Foundation, 624 Hospital Drive, Mountain Home, AR 72653. Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com.