Bishop Cilley Dies at House of Bishops Meeting

Episcopal News Service. October 9, 1986 [86219]

SAN ANTONIO (DPS, Oct. 9) -- The Rt. Rev. Roger Howard Cilley, retired suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Texas, died here on Sept. 26, a day after the official adjournment of the 1986 interim House of Bishops meeting.

The funeral service was held in Trinity Church, Galveston, on Sept. 29 and Cilley was buried in the Episcopal Cemetery there.

Consecrated suffragan bishop in 1976, he served until his retirement to Austin in 1985. A former Shakespearean actor, he was known for his powerful speaking voice and for his pastoral gifts. He served as rector of Trinity, Galveston, for 15 years, and throughout his years as bishop, retained a warm affection for the people of the island.

Cilley was a native of Corning, N.Y. and held B.S. and M.A. degrees from New York University. He received his M.Div. from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin in 1956 and was honored with the D.D. degree by both his alma mater and the University of the South. He taught drama both at New York University and the University of Texas, prior to entering seminary.

Ordained to the diaconate in July 1956 and to the priesthood in June 1957 by Bishop Hines, Cilley served first as assistant and later as rector of St. Thomas, College Station, Texas; during that time (1956-58), he was also chaplain at Texas A & M. In 1958, he moved on to spend four years as rector of Holy Comforter, Angleton, from which he moved on to Galveston in 1962. He served in a number of diocesan positions and as a deputy to six General Conventions. He was also a consultant to the Prayer Book Revision Committee from 1967 to 1973.

Cilley is survived by his wife, Louise; a son, Richard Clark; and a daughter, Barbara Louise.