Gary Duane Greer, 84, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away on Monday June 14th, 2021. His past few months were spent battling Alzheimer's disease. Even while the disease ravaged his mind and body, his caustic but insightful sense of humor was still present.
Gary was born on September 22, 1936 to Alvin Lester Greer and Edna Lillian Lemay. His parents divorced, and his mother died when he was 14. He spent the next few years living with whoever might put up with his antics.
His legendary skills playing pool were honed in the southern Illinois pool halls attracting players, the likes of Minnesota Fats, to challenge the kid with the talent. As in most everything he did, he was quite successful and earned enough money to buy a brand new car, with cash, before he was 16.
Eventually he settled down, married Linda Lou Greene on May 1st, 1959, and started a very successful career as a draftsman. Soon he was transferred to Casper, Wyoming and began working in the oil fields as a freelance draftsman. In Casper, he enlisted in the National Guard and had a short stint in active duty as a chef. He learned to cook his culinary classics; vegetable soup, ham and beans and everyone's favorite…Oyster Stew. His social friends in Casper convinced him to go to college, and he eventually graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. This choice served him well later in life, but produced some frugal, but memorable times for his young family. He often said that it took him 20 years to make as much money as he was making before he went to college. After graduating, he moved his young family to Illinois where he bounced around in a couple of jobs. However, the lure of the west was too much and before long he again packed his family up and once again moved, this time to Soda Springs, Idaho to begin his long, diverse and successful career making fertilizer. His practical, no-nonsense way of managing produced results and lots and lots of fertilizer. He had a very descriptive term for Avogadro's occupation, teasing the young chemical engineers by telling them he discovered his number by accident. His career making fertilizer required him to move frequently; Soda Springs twice, Morris, IL, Lakeland, FL, and New Canaan Ct, where he rose to the rank of Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer. He later helped form a buy-out and he became a principal in a fertilizer company in Florida. By that time he had taken up a semi-retired life "kind of working" in Florida and spending leisure time in Idaho. A slump in the phosphate industry once again forced another career change. This time he formed a company that produced granulated fertilizer from sewage sludge. He was very proud of this company, and he held several patents for granulating various waste products.
His final project kept him busy until he retired to Pocatello, Idaho where he kept company with a close-knit group of friends. Even in retirement, he found it difficult to be idle and he fiddled around flipping houses.
As a young man, Gary was an expert napper. You could often find him in the office asleep, with the newspaper in his lap while he "rested his eyes." In retirement he perfected this technique, and he probably had the most rested eyes in Pocatello. He liked spending time with family, particularly all of his grandchildren. He was affectionately known to his Pocatello family as "Papa". He lived for the chance to have a relaxing beverage, spin a mostly true story and never miss a Friday night Hoo-Ha.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Becky Greer Smith. He is survived by his wife, Linda Greer; his brothers, Phil Greer, Stan Greer and Tim Greer; his children, Jeff and Mitchell (Tiffany) Greer; and his grandchildren Chelsey, Zachary, Alex, Drew and Jase Greer.
His family will abide by his wishes to "Just have my ashes thrown in the barrow pit." There will be no services at this time, but, at a later date, his family and friends will gather to celebrate this wonderful, smart, witty, strong, considerate, generous husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Published by the Downard Funeral Home, June, 18, 2021.
Note:
There is an Alvin Lester Greer (Memorial 9619131) buried in the Old Shiloh Cemetery, in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois as a possible father.
Brian Yerka
[email protected]
Gary was born on September 22, 1936 to Alvin Lester Greer and Edna Lillian Lemay. His parents divorced, and his mother died when he was 14. He spent the next few years living with whoever might put up with his antics.
His legendary skills playing pool were honed in the southern Illinois pool halls attracting players, the likes of Minnesota Fats, to challenge the kid with the talent. As in most everything he did, he was quite successful and earned enough money to buy a brand new car, with cash, before he was 16.
Eventually he settled down, married Linda Lou Greene on May 1st, 1959, and started a very successful career as a draftsman. Soon he was transferred to Casper, Wyoming and began working in the oil fields as a freelance draftsman. In Casper, he enlisted in the National Guard and had a short stint in active duty as a chef. He learned to cook his culinary classics; vegetable soup, ham and beans and everyone's favorite…Oyster Stew. His social friends in Casper convinced him to go to college, and he eventually graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. This choice served him well later in life, but produced some frugal, but memorable times for his young family. He often said that it took him 20 years to make as much money as he was making before he went to college. After graduating, he moved his young family to Illinois where he bounced around in a couple of jobs. However, the lure of the west was too much and before long he again packed his family up and once again moved, this time to Soda Springs, Idaho to begin his long, diverse and successful career making fertilizer. His practical, no-nonsense way of managing produced results and lots and lots of fertilizer. He had a very descriptive term for Avogadro's occupation, teasing the young chemical engineers by telling them he discovered his number by accident. His career making fertilizer required him to move frequently; Soda Springs twice, Morris, IL, Lakeland, FL, and New Canaan Ct, where he rose to the rank of Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer. He later helped form a buy-out and he became a principal in a fertilizer company in Florida. By that time he had taken up a semi-retired life "kind of working" in Florida and spending leisure time in Idaho. A slump in the phosphate industry once again forced another career change. This time he formed a company that produced granulated fertilizer from sewage sludge. He was very proud of this company, and he held several patents for granulating various waste products.
His final project kept him busy until he retired to Pocatello, Idaho where he kept company with a close-knit group of friends. Even in retirement, he found it difficult to be idle and he fiddled around flipping houses.
As a young man, Gary was an expert napper. You could often find him in the office asleep, with the newspaper in his lap while he "rested his eyes." In retirement he perfected this technique, and he probably had the most rested eyes in Pocatello. He liked spending time with family, particularly all of his grandchildren. He was affectionately known to his Pocatello family as "Papa". He lived for the chance to have a relaxing beverage, spin a mostly true story and never miss a Friday night Hoo-Ha.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Becky Greer Smith. He is survived by his wife, Linda Greer; his brothers, Phil Greer, Stan Greer and Tim Greer; his children, Jeff and Mitchell (Tiffany) Greer; and his grandchildren Chelsey, Zachary, Alex, Drew and Jase Greer.
His family will abide by his wishes to "Just have my ashes thrown in the barrow pit." There will be no services at this time, but, at a later date, his family and friends will gather to celebrate this wonderful, smart, witty, strong, considerate, generous husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Published by the Downard Funeral Home, June, 18, 2021.
Note:
There is an Alvin Lester Greer (Memorial 9619131) buried in the Old Shiloh Cemetery, in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois as a possible father.
Brian Yerka
[email protected]
Gary Duane Greer, 84, of Pocatello, Idaho, passed away on Monday June 14th, 2021. His past few months were spent battling Alzheimer's disease. Even while the disease ravaged his mind and body, his caustic but insightful sense of humor was still present.
Gary was born on September 22, 1936 to Alvin Lester Greer and Edna Lillian Lemay. His parents divorced, and his mother died when he was 14. He spent the next few years living with whoever might put up with his antics.
His legendary skills playing pool were honed in the southern Illinois pool halls attracting players, the likes of Minnesota Fats, to challenge the kid with the talent. As in most everything he did, he was quite successful and earned enough money to buy a brand new car, with cash, before he was 16.
Eventually he settled down, married Linda Lou Greene on May 1st, 1959, and started a very successful career as a draftsman. Soon he was transferred to Casper, Wyoming and began working in the oil fields as a freelance draftsman. In Casper, he enlisted in the National Guard and had a short stint in active duty as a chef. He learned to cook his culinary classics; vegetable soup, ham and beans and everyone's favorite…Oyster Stew. His social friends in Casper convinced him to go to college, and he eventually graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. This choice served him well later in life, but produced some frugal, but memorable times for his young family. He often said that it took him 20 years to make as much money as he was making before he went to college. After graduating, he moved his young family to Illinois where he bounced around in a couple of jobs. However, the lure of the west was too much and before long he again packed his family up and once again moved, this time to Soda Springs, Idaho to begin his long, diverse and successful career making fertilizer. His practical, no-nonsense way of managing produced results and lots and lots of fertilizer. He had a very descriptive term for Avogadro's occupation, teasing the young chemical engineers by telling them he discovered his number by accident. His career making fertilizer required him to move frequently; Soda Springs twice, Morris, IL, Lakeland, FL, and New Canaan Ct, where he rose to the rank of Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer. He later helped form a buy-out and he became a principal in a fertilizer company in Florida. By that time he had taken up a semi-retired life "kind of working" in Florida and spending leisure time in Idaho. A slump in the phosphate industry once again forced another career change. This time he formed a company that produced granulated fertilizer from sewage sludge. He was very proud of this company, and he held several patents for granulating various waste products.
His final project kept him busy until he retired to Pocatello, Idaho where he kept company with a close-knit group of friends. Even in retirement, he found it difficult to be idle and he fiddled around flipping houses.
As a young man, Gary was an expert napper. You could often find him in the office asleep, with the newspaper in his lap while he "rested his eyes." In retirement he perfected this technique, and he probably had the most rested eyes in Pocatello. He liked spending time with family, particularly all of his grandchildren. He was affectionately known to his Pocatello family as "Papa". He lived for the chance to have a relaxing beverage, spin a mostly true story and never miss a Friday night Hoo-Ha.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Becky Greer Smith. He is survived by his wife, Linda Greer; his brothers, Phil Greer, Stan Greer and Tim Greer; his children, Jeff and Mitchell (Tiffany) Greer; and his grandchildren Chelsey, Zachary, Alex, Drew and Jase Greer.
His family will abide by his wishes to "Just have my ashes thrown in the barrow pit." There will be no services at this time, but, at a later date, his family and friends will gather to celebrate this wonderful, smart, witty, strong, considerate, generous husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Published by the Downard Funeral Home, June, 18, 2021.
Note:
There is an Alvin Lester Greer (Memorial 9619131) buried in the Old Shiloh Cemetery, in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois as a possible father.
Brian Yerka
[email protected]
Gary was born on September 22, 1936 to Alvin Lester Greer and Edna Lillian Lemay. His parents divorced, and his mother died when he was 14. He spent the next few years living with whoever might put up with his antics.
His legendary skills playing pool were honed in the southern Illinois pool halls attracting players, the likes of Minnesota Fats, to challenge the kid with the talent. As in most everything he did, he was quite successful and earned enough money to buy a brand new car, with cash, before he was 16.
Eventually he settled down, married Linda Lou Greene on May 1st, 1959, and started a very successful career as a draftsman. Soon he was transferred to Casper, Wyoming and began working in the oil fields as a freelance draftsman. In Casper, he enlisted in the National Guard and had a short stint in active duty as a chef. He learned to cook his culinary classics; vegetable soup, ham and beans and everyone's favorite…Oyster Stew. His social friends in Casper convinced him to go to college, and he eventually graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. This choice served him well later in life, but produced some frugal, but memorable times for his young family. He often said that it took him 20 years to make as much money as he was making before he went to college. After graduating, he moved his young family to Illinois where he bounced around in a couple of jobs. However, the lure of the west was too much and before long he again packed his family up and once again moved, this time to Soda Springs, Idaho to begin his long, diverse and successful career making fertilizer. His practical, no-nonsense way of managing produced results and lots and lots of fertilizer. He had a very descriptive term for Avogadro's occupation, teasing the young chemical engineers by telling them he discovered his number by accident. His career making fertilizer required him to move frequently; Soda Springs twice, Morris, IL, Lakeland, FL, and New Canaan Ct, where he rose to the rank of Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer. He later helped form a buy-out and he became a principal in a fertilizer company in Florida. By that time he had taken up a semi-retired life "kind of working" in Florida and spending leisure time in Idaho. A slump in the phosphate industry once again forced another career change. This time he formed a company that produced granulated fertilizer from sewage sludge. He was very proud of this company, and he held several patents for granulating various waste products.
His final project kept him busy until he retired to Pocatello, Idaho where he kept company with a close-knit group of friends. Even in retirement, he found it difficult to be idle and he fiddled around flipping houses.
As a young man, Gary was an expert napper. You could often find him in the office asleep, with the newspaper in his lap while he "rested his eyes." In retirement he perfected this technique, and he probably had the most rested eyes in Pocatello. He liked spending time with family, particularly all of his grandchildren. He was affectionately known to his Pocatello family as "Papa". He lived for the chance to have a relaxing beverage, spin a mostly true story and never miss a Friday night Hoo-Ha.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Becky Greer Smith. He is survived by his wife, Linda Greer; his brothers, Phil Greer, Stan Greer and Tim Greer; his children, Jeff and Mitchell (Tiffany) Greer; and his grandchildren Chelsey, Zachary, Alex, Drew and Jase Greer.
His family will abide by his wishes to "Just have my ashes thrown in the barrow pit." There will be no services at this time, but, at a later date, his family and friends will gather to celebrate this wonderful, smart, witty, strong, considerate, generous husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Published by the Downard Funeral Home, June, 18, 2021.
Note:
There is an Alvin Lester Greer (Memorial 9619131) buried in the Old Shiloh Cemetery, in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois as a possible father.
Brian Yerka
[email protected]
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