Gary Paul McAvoy

Gary Paul McAvoy of Cary, North Carolina, fought a courageous battle with Leukemia and passed away on December 14th, 2023, at the age of 88. Gary was born in Omaha Nebraska on June 30th, 1935, and grew up in Walnut Iowa. He was married to his loving wife, Elsie Louise McAvoy for 66 years where they resided in Decorah IA, Glenview IL, Sun City West AZ and finally at the Waltonwood Retirement Community in Cary NC. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from the Iowa State Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls IA where he met his future wife Elsie from Fort Madison IA. Obtained a master’s degree in education from Michigan State University and taught at Evanston Township High School in Evanston IL.

Gary loved sports, especially golf, baseball, and football. He played minor league baseball in Omaha NE and one of his claims to fame is that he hit a double off the hall of fame pitcher Bob Gibson. He was a member of The National Baseball Umpires Association and umpired a series at Comiskey Park with the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals in 1979. Gary had Chicago Cubs season tickets since 1985 and finally his dream came true in 2016 when he got to see the Cubs Win a World Series! Gary had an exceptional passion for golf and had a hole in one on October 31st, 2022!

Gary never met a stranger. He always went out of his way to say hello, to see how you were doing, bring you a pastry or candy bar or tell you one of his dad jokes. He was a wonderful brother, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, and a friend to many. He was loved dearly and will be greatly missed.

Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie; sister, Kay McDermott; sister-in-law, Sherryl McAvoy; brother-in-law, Lee Cloud and his mother who raised him, Isabelle McAvoy. (Gary’s birth mother, Esther McAvoy passed away in 1939) and his father Paul Winston McAvoy. He is survived by his sisters Barb Drake (Joe), Maureen Schmidt (Bill) and his brother Jon McAvoy. He is also survived by his sons Alan Wayne McAvoy and Brian Lee McAvoy (Donna); grandchildren, Catherine McAvoy (Josh Stein), Brian Matthew McAvoy, Amanda Evans (Josh), Lucas McAvoy (Claire) and great-grandson, Cameron Daniel Evans.

A celebration of life is being planned and will be held at the Waltonwood in Cary NC at a date TBD. Details will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at https://givenow.lls.org

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