Gary Grey
November 20, 1949 ~ October 26, 2015
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
View Gary's Tribute Video
Gary Michael Grey, 65, of Pierre, passed away Monday, October 26, 2015 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, NE, after a twelve-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
Funeral service were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 31, 2015 at the St. Lawrence Community Church with Pastor Scot Tutt officiating. Burial followed at Sunbeam Cemetery, rural Miller. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 30, 2015 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.
Gary was born to Robert and Beulah (Story) Grey on November 20, 1949 in Miller, South Dakota. He attended grade school at Sunbeam and Sunrise rural schools. He attended high school in Miller, earned his BS degree at South Dakota State University with a degree in agricultural education and later earned his Master’s degree in educational administration in technology.
He taught secondary agricultural education at Pierre and Miller and taught farm and ranch business management in the Pierre area until 1993 when he became State Supervisor of Agricultural Education and State Advisor to the State FFA Association. He served as State President to the Agriculture Teacher’s Association and the state vocational education association. He was an officer and a charter member of the National Farm Management Association and served in a leadership capacity in many other areas dealing with agricultural education. He was named Outstanding Teacher in the SD Vocational Association and given the Honorary American degree by the National FFA.
Gary loved to travel, especially to Mexico, which he visited as often as he could. He also participated in a reefs and ecology study on the island of San Salvador and traveled to Taiwan with a group of students to share information on different aspects of learning and to become more agriculturally literate.
Gary had several interests and often said, “let me try that.” He liked hunting and fishing but also enjoyed being with people who were not interested in killing something, but wanted to gather as a group to share experiences. He liked downhill skiing, paragliding, skydiving, and snorkeling just to name a few. He also liked his motorcycle and enjoyed gathering friends to attend the rally together and to make more friends upon arriving.
He is survived by his older sister Ramona (Frank) Fischer of Johnstown, Colorado; younger brother Kelvin (Carol) of St. Lawrence; his sons, Ellery (Sharon) Grey of Rapid Citu, and Nicholas (Katy) of San Diego California; and five grandchildren: Cordelia, Charlotte, Ethan, Matea, and one due in December 2015.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents and older brother Larry.
A memorial has been established for the benefit of the South Dakota FFA Foundation, 39393 133rd St., Bath, SD 57427
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Gary’s arrangements.
Gary Michael Grey, 65, of Pierre, passed away Monday, October 26, 2015 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, NE, after a twelve-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease.
Funeral service were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 31, 2015 at the St. Lawrence Community Church with Pastor Scot Tutt officiating. Burial followed at Sunbeam Cemetery, rural Miller. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 30, 2015 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.
Gary was born to Robert and Beulah (Story) Grey on November 20, 1949 in Miller, South Dakota. He attended grade school at Sunbeam and Sunrise rural schools. He attended high school in Miller, earned his BS degree at South Dakota State University with a degree in agricultural education and later earned his Master’s degree in educational administration in technology.
He taught secondary agricultural education at Pierre and Miller and taught farm and ranch business management in the Pierre area until 1993 when he became State Supervisor of Agricultural Education and State Advisor to the State FFA Association. He served as State President to the Agriculture Teacher’s Association and the state vocational education association. He was an officer and a charter member of the National Farm Management Association and served in a leadership capacity in many other areas dealing with agricultural education. He was named Outstanding Teacher in the SD Vocational Association and given the Honorary American degree by the National FFA.
Gary loved to travel, especially to Mexico, which he visited as often as he could. He also participated in a reefs and ecology study on the island of San Salvador and traveled to Taiwan with a group of students to share information on different aspects of learning and to become more agriculturally literate.
Gary had several interests and often said, “let me try that.” He liked hunting and fishing but also enjoyed being with people who were not interested in killing something, but wanted to gather as a group to share experiences. He liked downhill skiing, paragliding, skydiving, and snorkeling just to name a few. He also liked his motorcycle and enjoyed gathering friends to attend the rally together and to make more friends upon arriving.
He is survived by his older sister Ramona (Frank) Fischer of Johnstown, Colorado; younger brother Kelvin (Carol) of St. Lawrence; his sons, Ellery (Sharon) Grey of Rapid Citu, and Nicholas (Katy) of San Diego California; and five grandchildren: Cordelia, Charlotte, Ethan, Matea, and one due in December 2015.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents and older brother Larry.
A memorial has been established for the benefit of the South Dakota FFA Foundation, 39393 133rd St., Bath, SD 57427
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Gary’s arrangements.
A Visitation was held on October 30, 2015 at 5:00 PM at St. Lawrence Community Church, 815 3rd St NW in St. Lawrence, South Dakota 57373
A Prayer Service was held on October 30, 2015 at 7:00 PM at St. Lawrence Community Church, 815 3rd St NW in St. Lawrence, South Dakota 57373
A Funeral Service was held on October 31, 2015 at 10:30 AM at St. Lawrence Community Church, 815 3rd St NW in St. Lawrence, South Dakota 57373
A Graveside Service was held on October 31, 2015 at Sunbeam Cemetery in rural Miller, South Dakota 57362
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Agriculture Education is strong in South Dakota because of the work that Gary did over his lifetime and career. As an agriculture teacher he was a mentor, as a State Supervisor he was a leader, as a South Dakota Association for Agriculture Education member, he was a professional, and as a person he was a friend. Gary was all of these to me. The agriculture education family joins with Gary’s family, in this sad loss.
Gary was one of a kind and will be missed by many. Have many fond, "fun" memories of Gary in high school and 4-H! Always had a smile on his face and a "Hey Moncur, how’s it going!" And ALWAYS the "short" jokes! Once again, heaven got a good one. My deepest condolences to the Grey family.
Out thoughts and prayers are with you, Ellery and Nickolas.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Dave and Joni Blachford.
So many fond memories of our grade school and high school days. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
I have so many good memories of Gary through high school and college. He used to be able to immediately name any song he heard on the radio as we were driving back and forth from college some weekends! We send our thoughts and prayers to his family and the very large circle of friends he must have had.
I remember Gary and his kind ways. My prayers of support to his family and friends.
I want to send my sympathy to the family. My parents were Rev. Douglas and Katherine Barrows who pastored the Sunbeam Congregational Church and I remember his parents.
So Sorry to hear about Gary. Ellery & Nickolas you were always in Gary’s Heart and mind. Gary and I did many things together throughout the years and most of all we were best friends and shared many things. Gary was a dedicated agricultural education person from being a teacher, farm business management instructor and state supervisor and state FFA advisor as well as many committees and officer of our South Dakota organizations. We will miss Gary deeply!! Marlan
We wish to send our sincere condolences to the Grey family. I personally remember Gary as a caring person with a smile a yard wide. God’s peace.
I am sorry to learn of Gary’s death. He is a former colleague from the SD Dept. of Education. I am sending prayers and sympathy to his family.
I have many fond memories of Gary from our 4-H and high school days. He was a great friend. My sincere sympathy to his family.