Garry Lee Hersey's Obituary
Garry L. Hersey, Our beloved Dad, was reunited with the love of his life and best friend, his wife of 53 years, Patti, on Feb. 8th, 2015.
Garry was born on Sept. 22, 1929 in Tacoma to Jack and Peggy Hersey. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family. Garry graduated from Stadium High School in 1947, where he was a nine-time letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In his junior year he was selected as all city quarterback and met his future wife. He attended CPS on an athletic scholarship where he lettered in basketball and baseball. After having gone together for six years Garry and Patti were married in 1952, soon after Garry graduated from CPS. Immediately following the honeymoon Garry was enlisted into the Army as an officer, and they were transferred to Bordeaux, France, where they spent two years until the end of the Korean conflict. Upon returning, Garry began his long laundry career with Superior Linen by working in Olympia for Star Laundry, another company recently purchased by his father, Jack Hersey. After five years and three children they moved to Fircrest, where he continued his career with Superior Linen. In 1957 they discovered their passion for golf and joined Fircrest Golf Club. Over the years they played in many tournaments together around the Northwest. They developed many lifelong friendships at Fircrest while attending club activities and social functions. Equally important to Garry was spending time with his longtime friends from college, high school, and even grade school. Garry loved being with his family, enjoying activities such as clam digging at Ocean Shores, bird hunting in Eastern Washington, and trout fishing at Lawrence and Clear Lake. He and Patti enjoyed many fishing trips with Gordy and Marcia, from the Washington coast to Canada and Alaska. Another favorite pastime for Garry and Patti was to spend their winters in La Quinta, CA at their condo.
Garry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Gordy, and his wife Patti. Garry is survived by his sister-in-law Marcia Hersey, 3 children, Mike (Sherry), Rusty (Janet), and Terri McMasters (John), grandchildren John McMasters Jr. (Lindsey), Ken McMasters (April), Scott McMasters (Jackie), Dave McMasters (Stacy), Sarah Anderson (Donny), and Chad Hersey; five great-grandchildren, Haley, JB3, Sierra, Soren, and Easton who newly arrived on Feb. 9, in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a viewing at Mountain View Funeral Home Thursday, Feb. 12, from 12:00 to 7:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM Wednesday, Feb. 25th, at the University Place Presbyterian Church, 8101 27th St. West. A reception will follow at 5:30 at Fircrest Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Garry's memory to The Fircrest Golf Club, 1500 Regents Blvd., Fircrest, WA 98466, for stocking Hersey Pond with fish for the Annual Father/Child Campout. The family would like to extend their deep appreciation to the wonderful care that Garry received at the Young at Heart Adult Family Home where he resided the past 14 months. We would also like to thank Bud, Dick, Cam, Hawk, Stan, and various other friends for brightening his life with their Friday lunches at Fircrest Golf Club and The Clubhouse Grill, where he felt so at home.
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