Gary was born in Sedalia, Missouri on March 12, 1950 to Fred D. Naylor and Nola Lee (Jones) Naylor. He had an older brother and sister, a younger sister and 4 half-brothers.
As a child, the family had a small dairy farm where his chores included keeping the milk room clean. Each sibling was allowed to purchase a farm animal with a given amount of money. Gary chose to have a small herd of sheep which doubled in size with the spring birthing. As a teen Gary liked to play baseball and ride his bicycle in his spare time. In the seventh grade Gary moved to Kansas City, Kansas to live with his dad and step-mother, Janet. He attended Washington High School and enjoyed Art (painting and drawing), woodworking, and shop classes. Janet couldn’t understand why Gary kept asking for more “Shop money” until he surprised her with a beautiful cedar chest that she still treasurers. He won a First Place Art Award and his still life picture was displayed at the Nelson Gallery of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduation from Washington High School he was employed at a service station and worked on cars in the service bay. Later he drove a semi-truck for a company that made local deliveries in the Kansas City area. He stopped driving after 25 years and he was awarded a diamond ring for being accident free for those 25 years of service.
Moving to a “working retirement” he did farm work, mechanics, and fed and worked cattle until his health caused him to stop employment in those various activities. Gary liked all types of music. As a young boy Gary attended church but a bad experience with a minister caused him to believe all churches were “the same.” A renewed interest in religion began to develop around 1998 as he began to study the Bible in earnest and spiritual things began to take a more prominent place in his life. It was the time of a pastoral transition when Gary was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Clinton, Missouri by Pastor Andrew Jasper. He was presented to the congregation by the former pastor Gary Brady and welcomed by the associate-pastor, Dwight Seek as well as the congregation.
He was especially fond of reading and studying the Bible parables. One of his favorite Bible stories was the one about Peter’s betrayal of Jesus and the earlier prediction by Jesus that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock would crow. He also liked to study and discuss the stories of Jesus’ life in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. He was currently studying the book of Acts with others from his church. Gary found that the more he studied the Bible the more he wanted to learn from it. He felt this was something that he had looked for and desired all of his life.
Gary’s constant companion was his dog, Patches. Patches loved to ride in the car and they went everywhere together. Gary and Patches adored each other as was obvious by their warm relationship and loving looks. Patches, mostly blind and per Gary’s wishes, has been placed in a forever Refuge Home where he can happily live out the rest of his life.
Gary was preceded in death by his father, Fred; his mother Nola; his half-bother Dale Brownfield; and his step-father John Brownfield. He is survived by his brother, Alan (Pam) Naylor, two sisters- Gladys Ridge and Becki Edwards, three half-brothers – Fred Naylor, Mike (Susie) Naylor and Fred (Dana) Brownfield, his step-mother Janet Naylor and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and many friends.
We will ALL miss you, Gary.
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