Gary Mabrey

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Gary Wayne "Pard" Mabrey, 76, of Carbondale, formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away peacefully at his home in Carbondale after a tough battle with cancer at 2:06 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016.

Gary was born Aug. 7, 1940, in Cape Girardeau, a son to the late William Martin and Lorene Evelyn (Schulberg) Mabrey. He formerly was married to Norma Glueck of Cape Girardeau.

Pard was a veteran and served in the National Guard.

He was a commercial painting contractor for over 52 years, and he owned and operated Pard Paint in Carbondale.

He was a member of the Church of Israel's Redeemer in Carbondale.

He was a member of Elks Lodge 639 in Cape Girardeau, an associate member of Murphysboro (Illinois) Elks Lodge 572, past Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge 639 in Cape Girardeau and was also a member of the Murphysboro Moose Lodge 1591 and Paul Stout Post 127 American Legion in Murphysboro.

Gary's greatest love was just being around people. He never met a stranger and was touched by all who knew him. He will be missed greatly.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer Ann and Patrick Reames of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey M. and Tammie Mabrey of Macomb, Illinois; his loving companion, Shirley Summers of Murphysboro; two sisters, Emily Lou Tuttle of Jackson and Sharon Ann Mabrey of Palm Beach, California; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Crawshaw Funeral Home in Murphysboro. It will conclude with an Elks service of remembrance at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Walker Hill Cemetery in Grand Tower, Illinois, with military rites by Paul Stout Post 127.

Memorials are encouraged and may be made to the Elks Children's Care Corp. and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To send a condolence or find additional information, visit the memorial tribute at crawshawfuneralhome.com.