Gary was born, March 8, 1938, in Leavenworth, Kan., the son of Andrew and Ruby (Kell) Meyers. He attended Wilson Avenue School for the first five grades, Third Avenue School, Leavenworth Jr. High and on to Leavenworth High School, graduating in 1956. After graduation, Gary enlisted in the U. S. Navy and became a Fire Control Radar Technician. Serving aboard the U.S.S. Henderson DD785 in the Western Pacific Ocean until his honorable discharged in September, 1962.
In July 1959, Gary married his childhood sweetheart Donna Marie Wiseman (LHS Class of 1956), at the First Methodist Church in Leavenworth. After leaving the Navy, he was employed at Fort Leavenworth, as a Radar Technician on the Nike Missile Systems.
In 1966, Gary accepted a civilian position with the US Naval Department working on missile systems and moved his family to Ventura Calif. In 1972, this job took him to the Tonkin Gulf of Viet Nam. After returning to the states, he decided to leave the traveling behind and accepted a position with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Palmdale, Calif. Gary held many positions in the FAA until his retirement in May 1994 after 38 years of government service.
After retirement, Gary stayed active volunteering as an official for youth baseball and basketball. He enjoyed woodworking, spending time with his dogs, camping, fishing, baseball (especially his grandson’s games) and traveling with his wife. He also enjoyed being “Pa” to his nine grandchildren. Gary and Donna returned to Leavenworth in 2003, after living in Southern California for 38 years.
Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Donna Marie Meyers (Wiseman); daughter, Lisa DePuy (Brian) of Rocklin, Calif.; son, Mark Meyers (Amy) of Miles, Texas; grandchildren, Tyler Downie, Jackie Hone, Sherae O’Shaughnessy, Shelly Deguchi, Jordan Miller, Trevan DePuy, Steven, Joshua and Jacob Meyers; and seven great-grandchildren, Amaya, Ivy, Luca, Marlie, Taya, Audrina and Teijo. Gary was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be missed by all who knew him. He also leaves to cherish his memory, siblings, twin sister, Jerlean Matzeder (LHS Class of 1956) (Bernard) , Maxine Spain (LHS Class of 1959) (Bill), James Meyers (LHS Class of 1962) (Catherine) and Rick Meyers (LHS Class of 1969) (Kathy); brother-in-law, Gary Wiseman (LHS Class of 1962) (Julie); sister-in-law, Diane Wiseman; and many nieces and nephews.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby and Andy, his in-laws, Ruby and Floyd Wiseman, Pam Patzwald (LHS Class of 1967), Ron Wiseman (LHS Class of 1960) and a niece, Tishe McFadden.
Garold Meyers was cremated and a memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, April 27, 2012, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Burial with military honors, will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery. The family wishes to express their gratitude for the outstanding care that Gary received during the past few months. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 9221 Ward Parkway, Ste 100 Kansas City, MO 64114 and the University of Kansas Cancer Center: www.www.kucancercenter.org/give/support/
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