Gary Ray BEAR

BEAR, STEVENS, STARMER, RICHARDSON, FEICK, AUSTIN, TONEY, BALES

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/2/2009 at 19:54:01

OBITUARY - GARY RAY BEAR

Gary Ray BEAR 68, son of Orville N. and Donna L. (STEVENS) BEAR was born December 11, 1938 near Mount Ayr, Iowa and departed this life February 9, 2007 at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr.

While living in Portland, Oregon at an the age of 11 Gary started his working career by being a newspaper carrier and with his brother Ray started a lawn mowing business building up to 35 customers.

Gary graduated from the Tingley High School with the class of 1957 and later embarked on a career in the U.S. Navy for 21 years where he served on numerous aircraft carriers as an ordinance specialist, was a recruiter in Clinton, IA for 3 years and spent active duty in the reserves in Chicago training reservists as ordinance specialists. He also found time to graduate from college as an industrial engineer and was an insurance agent for a time in California and Illinois. Gary also helped raise the capital funds for the new CGI Grocery Store in Mount Ayr and was a big part of making and keeping the coffee club going in Diagonal.

On May 16, 1998 Gary and Marilyn STARMER RICHARDSON were married in Diagonal where they continued to make their home.

Gary was involved in the United Church of Diagonal, the Diagonal Lions Club, and the Morris-Herrold Post #395 of the American Legion.

Preceding Gary in death were his parents and in-laws Elmer and Verna STARMER.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife Marilyn of Diagonal, his children, Lori (John) FEICK of Creston, IA, Terri (Mick) AUSTIN of Cassville, MO and Chris (Wendy) RICHARDSON of Cherokee, IA; 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild; brother Ramon (Deloris) BEAR of St. Louis, MO and sisters Glee TONEY of Central Square, NY and Nadine BALES of Pittsburgh, CA, nieces, nephews and many friends.

Services were held Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. at the United Church of Diagonal, Diagonal, Iowa

SOURCE: www.funeralplan2.com/watsonarmstrongfh/archive?id=88844

Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
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