Gary Meade Sr.

First and foremost, Gary D. Meade, Sr. was a family man. He loved his two children equally and unconditionally, and many of his happiest memories in life involved the twenty-seven years he spent with his beloved wife. He had a natural social talent that always left people charmed and smiling, and he was a good friend to the many people he knew throughout his life.

The 1950s were a picturesque time in American history. Families were moving out of the cities to stake claim on property in the suburbs and many new innovated inventions were making their way into the homes of average Americans. Neighborhoods and schools were bursting at the seams with children as a result of the post war baby boom. Cecil and Lynchie (Burris) Meade lived in Pikeville, Kentucky with their two children, Judy and Steven. Cecil would often work long hours in the coal mines in the family’s hometown, but after the mines closed, the family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he found work with General Motors. Here the Meade family grew to include Carol and Randy, and on October 5, 1957, Cecil and Lynchie welcomed the birth of their youngest child, Gary David, at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.

As a young boy, Gary was always very active and while attending Townline Elementary School, he participated in a variety of sports, including football, basketball and baseball. He also spent much of his leisure time hunting, fishing, playing water sports, snowmobiling and riding dirt bikes. Gary graduated from East Kentwood High School in 1976, where he was a standout athlete on the school’s cross-country team. During the summer, the Meade’s loved to visit their family back in Pikeville, in the mountains of Kentucky. Gary was always close with his brothers and sisters, often doing activities together on weekends and in the summer. In 1972, his father bought a trailer on Big Star Lake in Baldwin, Michigan, where the family enjoyed getting together with Gary’s brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. The family still owns this property and now the next generation has begun to enjoy the land with their friends and family. Aside from the lake, Gary’s family also liked going to sunny Florida in the summer, until his father died in 1987 and his mother in 1992.

During high school, Gary worked in the cafeteria at General Motors, with his uncle Bud and friend Chris, but later took a job at Walter Hagen, a golf manufacturing company, in Grand Rapids. A few years after graduating, Gary began his 27-year career with Steelcase and over the years, he made many good friends and lifelong companions with his co-workers. Together, they enjoyed bowling, playing on softball teams, deer hunting (though in his 30 years of hunting, he never got a deer) and being on a golf league together, calling themselves the “Worm Burners.”

On June 24, 1975, a wonderful thing happened to Gary – he met the love of his life, Lori Stephan. On this night at the Woodland Drive In Theater, he caught the eye of Lori and they were soon becoming acquainted. Lori soon went away to attend computer school in Missouri. But that didn’t stop them from falling in love. They stayed closely connected with each other and upon her return, then began making wedding plans. However, the couple couldn’t decide on a wedding date so they put four dates in a hat and drew out November 18, 1977, and that was the day they happily said “I do” at Faith Reformed Church. A beautiful reception followed at the FOP Hall. At the time, Gary was laid off from Walter Hagen and so the newlyweds headed to Chicago for a romantic honeymoon. Unfortunately, after only a day, Gary was called back to work and had to report the very next day. So needless to say, their honeymoon was cut short. Gary and Lori settled into married life together in an apartment at 3800 Madison. They later bought their first and only home at 1330 Arianna, where they joyfully raised their two children: Cecilia, born on May 15, 1978, and Gary David Jr., born on May 23, 1981.

It was no secret that Gary was a wonderful husband and father. He cared deeply for his family and showed it by providing faithfully for them and sharing much laughter and love. He was a strong father figure with his children, who knew that they could always count on him. Gary and Lori were always actively involved in every phase of their children’s lives, whether at their schools, West Leonard Elementary School and Union High School, or simply at home. Like his family, Gary enjoyed taking his wife and children on family vacations to Florida during the summer and to Piston basketball games at the Palace, but most especially, spending time at the family trailer at Big Star Lake. Although Gary loved to be outdoors among nature, he wasn’t much into camping. He preferred to have a nice bed and hot shower nearby.

Gary had a wonderful sense of humor and was known to be quite the character at times. His corny jokes were sure to bring a smile to your face and truly lift your spirits. His kids liked to pull a few practical jokes of their own and he was usually the target. One time, they painted his toenails red while at the beach in Florida, and then told him they didn’t have any polish remover. Gary was known to sleep through just about anything and his kids, once again, used this to their advantage and glued his toes together. They were always having some fun together. Throughout his life, Gary was a pretty happy man who rarely got mad at anyone and brought scores of smiles and happiness to all those around him.

Even though Gary worked hard to support his family, he also took time to help out at home. He was usually the first one home from work and he made sure dinner was on the table. As a good cook, some of his specialties included Mexican food and chicken and dumplings. One of Gary’s favorite foods, however, was biscuits and gravy. Aside from cooking, he was also a good housekeeper, helping out wherever needed. In his leisure time, Gary enjoyed watching classic television shows like Beverly Hillbillies and Gunsmoke, old westerns with John Wayne and Clint Eastwood or detective shows like Third Watch and Court TV, and of course, the evening news. His absolute favorite show to watch for a good laugh was Seinfeld. For his listening pleasure, Gary liked music of the 60s and 70s – the classic rock.

On Saturday, Gary wasn’t feeling well and asked his wife Lori to take him to the doctor. Later, however, he began having chest pains and collapsed. Without warning, he died on Saturday morning, February 12, 2005, with his beloved wife Lori at his side.

Gary was a fun loving kind of guy who liked to have fun especially with his wife and children. He was a real family man who took pride in his role as a husband, father and grandfather to Taylor. He loved his brothers and sisters and never missed an opportunity to be with them. Gary cherished the many friendships he made through the years. He will truly be missed.

Gary David Meade, aged 47, of Grand Rapids, MI, passed away very unexpectedly on Saturday, February 12, 2005. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Lori Meade (Stephan); his daughter and son-in-law, Cecilia (Shawn) Sandee, his son, Gary David Jr. and fiancée Carrie Cunningham; his granddaughter, Taylor Meade; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph and Wilma Stephan of Wyoming, MI; his sisters and brothers, Judy (Randy) Bast of Jenison, MI, Steven (Cindy) Meade of Grand Rapids, Carol (Mike) Nesbitt of Greenville, MI, Randy (Mary) Meade of Grandville, MI; several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Lynchie Meade.

The funeral to celebrate Gary’s life will be held at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, on Thursday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. with burial in Chapel Hill Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet his family at the funeral home on Tuesday, February 15, from 7-9 p.m. and Wednesday, February 16, from 7-9 p.m. Please visit Gary’s web site at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share your memories of him, sign his guest book or make a memorial contribution to the American Heart Association.