William Edward Gary III
November 23, 1933 – February 16, 2021
The “dash” between the dates: Businessman, CEO, risk-taker, father, granddad, counselor, friend. Larger than life, he was a successful corporate attorney, mentored under Morton Holbrook, leaving the firm then called “Holbrook, Gary, Wible & Sullivan” to become Executive VP and lead Counsel of Pinkerton Tobacco in 1979. Tired of “bickering”, as he called it, at 50 years old, when he and some friends talked of their coming retirements, he took the plunge and risked all to purchase Port KenBar on Lake Barkley, closing the deal on April 2, 1984 and renaming it Green Turtle Bay. In 2014, he purchased the Grand Rivers IGA grocery store and renamed it the “Village Market & Café”. He was instrumental in the addition of the Badgett Playhouse live theatre venue and bringing a 1st Kentucky Bank branch to Grand Rivers.
As much as he loved “the game of business” Bill loved his family, his friends, and his employees. He considered the creation of employment opportunities and helping people to develop their talents and skills in order to provide for their families, as a high calling. Over the years many past employees who moved on to other fields would stop by when in the area, visit with Bill and tell him they appreciated his mentorship and guidance for their lives.
Bill III, the son of William E. Jr. & Vida Damron Gary of Owensboro, is survived by his siblings, children, their spouses, and his grandchildren. Siblings are sister Nancy with husband Doug McKinley, their children & grandchildren and brother David with Margaret Gary & their children & grandchildren. Descendant survivors are his daughter Vida Deane Gary with husband Bill Huffman, their son & his spouse & children, Ben & Michelle Huffman with girls Mabel & June; His son, Bill IV & Machelle Gary with their daughter’s Isabelle & Elliott, along with Machelle’s older children and grandchildren, Jeremy & Laci Beasley with Rowdy & Baylee; Nick & Kaelynne McLaughlin with Charlie; and Daniel & Katie McLaughlin with Nora May & Josie June.
Graveside service for family and Green Turtle Bay and Village Market employees will be Wednesday, February 24th at 11:00AM at the Grand Rivers Cemetery.
Following this service the family invites all family, friends and employees to come by the Green Turtle Bay Conference Center anytime from 1:00PM to 4:00PM to visit, sign our book and reminisce.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
Livingston Hospital Foundation (To purchase needed equipment)
131 Hospital Drive
Salem, KY 42078
Or
Commonwealth Yacht Club Events (To set up an annual sailing event at the yearly Regatta in Bill’s name)
c/o Terry West
735 Marina Drive
Grand Rivers, KY 42045