Gary Adelbert Mead

Gary Mead passed away peacefully at home Wednesday November 6, 2024. He was born in Michigan on December 25, 1940. 

Gary attended grade school in Chama, New Mexico and later graduated from Durango, Colorado High School in 1959. For graduation his father bought Gary a 1959 pink Edsel convertible that he eventually matched with his pink single engine airplane. He learned to be a sawyer at his father’s sawmills in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.

Gary was a logger, truck driver, heavy equipment operator in addition to being a mill wright. As a mill wright he worked outages at multiple generating stations around Arizona. He was an accomplished mechanic and a jack of all trades. For a period, Gary lived his dream of being a cowboy when he worked at a ranch in Globe. Gary served in the Army Reserves during the Vietnam Era. 

Gary moved to the Springerville area in 1976. Three of his children graduated from Round Valley High School. He worked at Southwest Forest Industries, then for Terry Reidhead in Nutrioso for several years. Gary gradually retired to donate his mechanical abilities to the VFW and other charitable organizations. He had a vast knowledge and love of classic cars and collected many models which he shared with his grandsons.

His children will remember him by his unique infectious laughter, humor, his love for dogs and horses, the strong work ethic he taught them and his ability to shine on the dance floor with his two-step.

Gary was a founding member of “The Table of Knowledge” where he and other members would expound on the mysteries of the universe and solve the world’s problems over a cold beer. 

Gary was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Katherine Mead, father, Marion Mead, sisters, Nora Jean Mead, Mary Lane Daniels and brother, Hugh Mead.

He is survived by his spouse, Peggy Mead, sons, Anthony Payne, Vaughn Andrew Mead, daughters, Pam Tackett, Janet Therese Strickland, Diane Coleen Mead, step-sons, Patrick Preder, Christopher Preder, Aaron Preder, Richard Preder, step-daughter, Laura Preder, 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

He will be missed greatly.