Gary Dean Black

Gary was born June 7, 1934 in Farnhamville, IA, the son of Lloyd and Lyle (Parsons) Black. He graduated from Farnhamville High School in 1952 and continued his education at Iowa State College on an athletic scholarship where he pitched for the Cyclones baseball team and earned a degree in Animal Husbandry.

Gary married Marilyn Graham on September 22, 1956 and they had five children together before divorcing in 1975. He married Joanne (Rooks) Deardorff on February 14, 1982 and welcomed her sons Dale and Don Deardorff into his family.

Gary worked for and later owned the successful nursery Old Orchard Gardens in Manchester MO for many years and served as the president of the MO Association of Nurserymen. After selling the nursery, he began working for R&H Distributing in Fenton, MO where he continued to use his sharp business mind. When Gary was not working he enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Gary is survived by his children: Karen (Mark) Clymer, Pat (Bruce) Perkins, Ken (Sherry) Black, Kathy (Loren) Mock and Scott (Lori) Black and their mother Marilyn; stepchildren, Dale Deardorff and Don Deardorff; grandchildren: Eric (Cally) Clymer, Brian (Regan) Clymer, Kelsey Budd, Kyle (Jacquie) Black, Garrett Mould, Keegen (Amy) Mould, Graham Black and Holden Black, David and Dean’a Deardorff, and Garrett and Taylor Deardorff; great-grandchildren: Macie, Palmer, Allie, Velocity, Stella, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Gary in death are his wife Joanne; parents Lloyd and Lyle Black; brothers Clayton and Dale Black; and sister, Nancy Jurgensen.

A Visitation for Gary will be held Friday, August 29, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Alexander-White-Mullen Funeral Home, 11101 Saint Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, MO 63074. The Funeral will occur Friday, August 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM. The Committal will occur Friday, August 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, 11101 St Charles Rock Rd, Saint Ann, MO 63074.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, the family requests that you contact your own family members to tell them how much you love them as often as possible.