Doyle Dewey Gracey, Jr. (2010)

GRACEY, DAVIS, WHINERY, STAUFFER, DUNN, LAROCK, MCCARL, TUTTLE

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 8/24/2010 at 20:31:09

The Tehachapi News
Posted on line Feb. 22, 2010

Long time resident, Doyle Gracey, Jr. passed away on Feb. 15 at his home in Tehachapi after a lengthy illness.

Doyle was born in Two (sic), Iowa on Feb. 3, 1924 to parents, Queenie and Doyle Gracey Sr. He grew up and attended schools in Oak Park, Ill. and graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in that city; class of 1943. Passing up a football scholarship to a Midwestern college (Notre Dame) he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during the height of World War II and took boot camp training in San Diego.

A short tour of duty at the Marine Corps base in Mojave brought him into acquaintance with the people of nearby Tehachapi. By the spring of 1944 he was shipped overseas with a replacement battalion to the islands of Guadalcanal, Tinian, Saipan and New Caledonia. He saw action in the Battle of Okinawa. From Okinawa he was sent to duty in China where he became ill and was sent home on a hospital ship and in 1946 he received an honorable discharge from the Marines.

This brief encounter into civilian life brought him to Tehachapi where he was employed at Monolith Cement Company and where he met and married local girl Pat Davis.

The musical strains of the Marine Corps Hymn beckoned and in 1948 he re-enlisted and spent the next 27 years in the corps, retiring in 1975 with a total of 30 years service to his country. This span of time included overseas duty during the Korean War, plus two tours in Vietnam. He was a distinguished rifle shot and traveled with the Marine Corps Rifle Team.

Upon retirement he attended Cal State Bakersfield where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science. After obtaining his teaching degree he taught for several years at Monroe High School. He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, Knights of Columbus, and the Marine Corps Distinguished Shooters Association.

He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Pat, and their five sons: Merrill and wife Tammara; Doyle; James and wife Teri; Father John Gracey; Thomas and wife Beth. He is also survived by grandchildren, Matthew Gracey, Jacque Whinery, Dakota Gracey, Jodi Stauffer and Jeremy Dunn. Great-grandchildren are: Alyssa and Bo Whinery; Shelley and Catie Gracey; Sage and Steel Dunn; and Scott, Django and Leeland Stauffer.

Preceding him in death was his beloved daughter Ellen, his parents, Queenie and Doyle Gracey and sisters, Esther Larock, Ruby McCarl and Meyrlin Tuttle.

The Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Monday, Feb. 22.

Father Joel Davadilla offered the Mass of Resurrection with Father John Gracey, Father David Greskowiak, Father Jay Luczak and Monsignor Francis Pointek concelebrating. Interment followed at Westside cemetery with the funeral service being handled by Wood Family Funeral Service.