Gary Gilreath

On Sunday, September 22, 2019, God called his Heavenly Angle, Gary Gilreath, home.

Gary Gilreath was born on November 29, 1960 in Boston, MA. He was the second child born to Elmer and Gloria Gilreath. Gary had an older sister named Margaret “Peggy” Terry whom he was close with. Peggy’s daughter, Jennifer McPherson, remembers him fondly as a sharp drelilsser and someone that loved the grandeur of a celebration.

Gary attended Cathedral High School and immediately enlisted in the Navy after graduating. He was enlisted in the Navy from 1980 to 1984 and was stationed in San Diego, CA. Gary would often reminisce about the weather and his “pushing papers” there. Following his time in the military, Gary briefly did some amateur modeling and then worked for Amtrak. He loved traveling and didn’t like to stay in one place for too long. But Gary always found his way back to Boston. He loved his city and the people here. The people he met quickly became his family. During his time in Boston, Gary met several wonderful people including Cheryl Cummings and her daughter Nicole Nadine Cummings who he claimed as his Stepdaughter. 

Gary went to Cambridge College and achieved his Associates Degree. He worked for years at the Boston Symphony Orchestra and later worked at the Veteran’s Shelter in Boston for many years while taking care of his mother before she passed in 2017. He also sold and wrote for Spare Change News during that time. After his mother’s passing, Gary decided to return to school to study Business. He enrolled at Northeastern University while continuing to sell and write for Spare Change News. Gary welcomed each customer with a big smile and treated each person as if they were his best friend. His friends and customers will lovingly remember his cheerful, genuine greeting of “Good Morning Friend.”

Gary always looked toward the future and, if he did dwell on the past, he never let it show. He had a plan for his future and was excited to be in school learning and being challenged. He gave school all of his attention and loved talking about what he was learning and how he debated with his classmates and professors.

Gary suffered a stroke in early September 2019 and was in the process of recovering when a blood clot in his lungs caused his passing on September 22, 2019.

Gary will be reunited with his many Heavenly Family Members including his loving parents Elmer “Big Gary” Gilreath and Gloria Flossie Paul.

Gary will be remembered lovingly by so many Spare Change News customers, classmates at Northeastern, friends that he called family, and his loving sister Peggy and niece Jennifer.

 Visiting hour on Friday October 4, from 11:00 am to 12:00 Noon in The Robert J. Lawler & Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St. West Roxbury. Burial with Military honors will be held in The Massachusetts National Cemetery at 2:00 pm. Late Navy Veteran.

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