Gary Lynn Myers, born in Shelby on May 23, 1968, died Thursday, May 10, 2018 at OhioHealth Shelby Hospital after a short battle with cancer. He was 49.
Gary was a hard-working man through and through. At the age of 17, Gary joined the Ohio Air National Guard. For 29 years he worked for the Ohio Air National Guard 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield where he had been a crew chief for C-27J and C-130 aircrafts. He had been deployed numerous times throughout his career, making him a veteran of the United States Air Force, and earned several medals and accolades, including being awarded the Maintainer of the Year award.
Gary retired on April 1, 2014 as a Senior Master Sergeant. While working at the 179th Airlift Wing, Gary also worked at Mansfield Correctional Institute as a corrections officer, where he was still currently employed in his 28th year of service. While at MANCI, Gary earned the Vallandingham Gold Star for Valor.
One of the most important things to Gary was farming. He was a 4th generation farmer at the family farm, Myers Farms, and currently was a partner in Rolling Hills Farms, LLC. Gary loved working the land, watching crops grow, and harvesting.
Gary was a loving and selfless man who would do anything for others. He loved his family more than anything. Gary led by example, teaching his children the importance of hard work and to care for others. It was important to him to make sure his family had lasting memories to cherish. Many of those memories were spent traveling and camping, both of which he treasured.
Always taking pride in his work, Gary loved to work outside and keep his house up to snuff, a home which he built himself for his family from the ground up. Gary was a 1986 graduate of Lexington High School and had attended The Ohio State University. He was a member of the Shelby American Legion and First Lutheran Church in Shelby.
Gary is survived by his wife, Jodi Lynn (Seif) Myers, whom he wed on May 13, 1995; three children: Keira Myers (fiancé, Shane McCleaf), of Mansfield, Shane Myers, a student at The Ohio State University, and Travis Myers, a senior at Shelby High School; two grandsons: Mason and Greyson McCleaf; and his mother: Susie (Adams) Peck, of Chillicothe.
Gary was the brother who would torment his sisters for his own entertainment but would also beat up anyone else who tried the same.
His sisters, Kimberly Hale, of Circleville, and Kelley (Josh) Pate, of Chillicothe, also survive along with his mother-in-law: Ellen Seif, of Galion; sister-in-law and brother-in-law: Leslie (Tad) Eickholt, of Bucyrus; numerous aunts, uncles, other relatives, and many close friends.
Gary was always the uncle who would reach out and tickle all the kids if they tried to pass by him. This became his ‘trademark’ and, while camping, the kids would look at him, giggle, and go the long way around the fire.
He was preceded in death by his father: Larry W. Myers in 2016; maternal grandparents: Stanley Adams, Sr. and Agnes Roberts Smith; paternal grandparents: Marlin and Gladys Myers; step-father: Richard Peck; and father-in-law: Larry Seif.
Family and friends are welcome on Monday, May 14, 2018 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby. Visitors are also welcome on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 from 10 to 11 a.m. where funeral services will immediately follow at 11 am. Rev. Russel Yoak will officiate and burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery, Shelby, where military honors will be conducted by the 179th Airlift Wing Honor Guard.
Immediately following the graveside committal, all are invited to a barn party at the family farm, 2305 St. Rt. 96, Shelby.
Memorial contributions may be made to OhioHealth Infusion Clinic in Shelby or OhioHealth Hospice. Online condolences may be made at www.turnerfuneralhomeshelby.com.
