Obituary for Cpt. Gary Neal Grasley
Cpt. Gary Neal Grasley passed away at his home, surrounded by his loving family on January 10, 2023.
Gary was born on April 8, 1944 in Renton, Washington to parents, Victor Charles Grasley and Juanita Evans. Their family moved to Burien, Washington and Gary was raised alongside his sister, Carole and 2 brothers, James and Brian. He graduated from Highline high school in Burien, later to attend Northwest college for 2 years in Kirkland, Washington to obtain his Associates degree.
Gary met the beautiful Elsie May Roberson while working at the Enco Gas Station next to her house. When she came to the station, he finally asked her on a date.
In 1965, Gary volunteered to be drafted into the United States Army and joined in December of that year. After basic training in Fort Ord, California, he was assigned to Advance Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Field Artillery Training. During leave after basic training, Gary asked Elsie to marry him. They were married on March 12, 1966 by his father, Victor, in Burien. After their honeymoon, they returned to Oklahoma where Gary was chosen to attend Officers Candidate Prep School, where he graduated as 2nd Lieutenant Officer in Field Artillery and Missile. He was assigned to OCS Academy as a Tactical Officer to train future officers.
Gary and Elsie welcomed their two daughters, Donna Lynn and Tina Marie before Gary was promoted as Captain in 1969 and sent to Vietnam, and the rest of his family returned to Seattle.
While in Vietnam, Gary served various positions, including: Fire Direction Officer in an Artillery Battalion, Intelligence and Civil Affairs Officer, overseeing radar equipment, NCO Clubs and Officers Clubs, as well as 2 major war orphanages in the area. He returned from Vietnam in July 1970 returning back to Oklahoma to an Officers Advanced Course at Fort Sill. Relocating to Washington, he was reassigned to Artillery Battalion at Fort Lewis for two years, and relocated yet again to Fort Sill, Oklahoma being elevated to the Battery Commander of an eight inch Howitzer Battery.
In 1973, Gary left the military for civilian life, arriving back to Seattle and working as a McDonald's Corporation Manager Trainee.
Gary and Elsie welcomed their third child, Kimberly in 1975 and their son, Michael in 1977.
Gary was proud to be promoted to Store Manager of McDonalds in Spanaway, Washington and was later promoted to supervise 5 McDonalds. Later to become the Business Consultant for the Operators in Montana, Idaho, and Eastern Washington. In 1985, Gary was sent to the McDonald's headquarters in Oakbrook, Illinois to help develop training materials for the company’s systems. After owning several franchises, Gary sold his McDonald’s Restaurant in East Providence, Rhode Island to buy four in the Ann Arbor area.
Retiring from the food industry in 2007, Gary worked as a Ann Arbor Public School system bus driver until around 2018.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Victor Charles Grasley and Juanita (Evans) Grasley.
He is survived and will be missed dearly by his beloved wife, Elsie; loving children, Donna (Mike) Carlson, Tina Rodrigues, Kimberly (David) Lawrentz, and Michael and Sara Grasley; grandchildren, Kaleigh, Payton, Kendall, Connor, Aidan, Dylan (Christine), Mckenzie (Justin), Hunter, Jonah, Mathew, Austin, Drew, Kamoira, Alaina, and Kingsley; great-grandchildren, Dallas, Sophia, Thomas Reign, and Asher.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 from 4-7pm at Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103. A funeral service will take place Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10am with visitation beginning at 9:30am at Knox Presbyterian Church, 2065 S Wagner Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 with burial to follow at Washtenong Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Fisher House Michigan, helping military families in a time of need by mail to PO Box 130466, Ann Arbor, MI 48113 or online HERE.
Gary was born on April 8, 1944 in Renton, Washington to parents, Victor Charles Grasley and Juanita Evans. Their family moved to Burien, Washington and Gary was raised alongside his sister, Carole and 2 brothers, James and Brian. He graduated from Highline high school in Burien, later to attend Northwest college for 2 years in Kirkland, Washington to obtain his Associates degree.
Gary met the beautiful Elsie May Roberson while working at the Enco Gas Station next to her house. When she came to the station, he finally asked her on a date.
In 1965, Gary volunteered to be drafted into the United States Army and joined in December of that year. After basic training in Fort Ord, California, he was assigned to Advance Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Field Artillery Training. During leave after basic training, Gary asked Elsie to marry him. They were married on March 12, 1966 by his father, Victor, in Burien. After their honeymoon, they returned to Oklahoma where Gary was chosen to attend Officers Candidate Prep School, where he graduated as 2nd Lieutenant Officer in Field Artillery and Missile. He was assigned to OCS Academy as a Tactical Officer to train future officers.
Gary and Elsie welcomed their two daughters, Donna Lynn and Tina Marie before Gary was promoted as Captain in 1969 and sent to Vietnam, and the rest of his family returned to Seattle.
While in Vietnam, Gary served various positions, including: Fire Direction Officer in an Artillery Battalion, Intelligence and Civil Affairs Officer, overseeing radar equipment, NCO Clubs and Officers Clubs, as well as 2 major war orphanages in the area. He returned from Vietnam in July 1970 returning back to Oklahoma to an Officers Advanced Course at Fort Sill. Relocating to Washington, he was reassigned to Artillery Battalion at Fort Lewis for two years, and relocated yet again to Fort Sill, Oklahoma being elevated to the Battery Commander of an eight inch Howitzer Battery.
In 1973, Gary left the military for civilian life, arriving back to Seattle and working as a McDonald's Corporation Manager Trainee.
Gary and Elsie welcomed their third child, Kimberly in 1975 and their son, Michael in 1977.
Gary was proud to be promoted to Store Manager of McDonalds in Spanaway, Washington and was later promoted to supervise 5 McDonalds. Later to become the Business Consultant for the Operators in Montana, Idaho, and Eastern Washington. In 1985, Gary was sent to the McDonald's headquarters in Oakbrook, Illinois to help develop training materials for the company’s systems. After owning several franchises, Gary sold his McDonald’s Restaurant in East Providence, Rhode Island to buy four in the Ann Arbor area.
Retiring from the food industry in 2007, Gary worked as a Ann Arbor Public School system bus driver until around 2018.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Victor Charles Grasley and Juanita (Evans) Grasley.
He is survived and will be missed dearly by his beloved wife, Elsie; loving children, Donna (Mike) Carlson, Tina Rodrigues, Kimberly (David) Lawrentz, and Michael and Sara Grasley; grandchildren, Kaleigh, Payton, Kendall, Connor, Aidan, Dylan (Christine), Mckenzie (Justin), Hunter, Jonah, Mathew, Austin, Drew, Kamoira, Alaina, and Kingsley; great-grandchildren, Dallas, Sophia, Thomas Reign, and Asher.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 from 4-7pm at Nie Family Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103. A funeral service will take place Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10am with visitation beginning at 9:30am at Knox Presbyterian Church, 2065 S Wagner Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 with burial to follow at Washtenong Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Fisher House Michigan, helping military families in a time of need by mail to PO Box 130466, Ann Arbor, MI 48113 or online HERE.