Celebration of Life held for Gary L. Elder

On June 18, and what would have been his 74th birthday, family and friends gathered at the Ash Rock Cemetery in Woodston, Kansas to celebrate the life of Gary L. Elder.

Gary was the son of Cleo and Pauline Elder, who resided in Stockton for several years. The church property had been donated by Gary’s great-grandfather Arnold A. Elder. Arnold and his family settled in Rooks County in 1877. Records indicate the first service at the Ash Rock Church was conducted in March, 1883.

Gary was born in Phillipsburg and spent his childhood years in Norton. After attending Fort Hays State University, Gary enlisted in the US Navy in December, 1968 and served as a cryptologist, retiring in 1989 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. The next 30 years he served the intelligence community as a government contractor, retiring in March, 2019.

Gary and his wife Dolores moved to Elizabeth City, N.C. where he lived until his passing on November 7, 2021.

The family enlisted Christian Lutz, of Schmidt Monument Works in Hays, to produce a memorial stone on an old limestone fencepost. The stone was placed in the family plot of Charles L. Elder, Gary’s grandfather. Family and friends came together in prayer and song to remember Gary. The first reading was a favorite poem of Gary’s, “Requiem,” by Robert Louis Stevenson, given by Gary’s 9-year-old grandson, Ian McLean. Other readings were given by his children Sarah and Charles Elder, son-in-law Bryan Shaw and nephew Derek Sprague. A cousin, Amanda Elder, led the group in songs. VFW Post 8873 from Stockton, honored CTTCS Gary Elder with a three -olley gun salute and played taps on the bugle.

Following the Celebration of Life, all gathered at the City Hall in Sockton for a luncheon. Attending were Gary’s wife, Dolores, and children, Sarah Elder, Charles Elder and Susan McLean; siblings Sharon York-Minton, Paula Elder and Richard Elder; and nephews, nieces, cousins and friends were also among those gathered to remember Gary.

Besides Kansas, family and friends traveled from Arkansas, California, Idaho, Louisiana, North Carolina and Virginia.

The Celebration of Life, having been planned from out of state, would not have been possible without the assistance of many wonderful individuals. Downer Hull, a board member of the Ash Rock Church, was responsible for the correct placement of the stone in the family plot. Courtney Flower, from the Stockton City office helped arrange the City Hall for us to use at lunch. Mr. and Mrs. Steven Melton, from the Ash Rock Church, opened and prepared the church for us to enjoy. John Berkely, of VFW Post 8873, arranged for the military gun salute and playing of Taps. The family really appreciates all who helped them remember their loved one, Gary!