GARY LEARY

Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Friend

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 19, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 124 Columbus Street in Bakersfield for 77-year-old Gary Joe Leary, who passed away on November 6 with his family by his side. Visitation in the church will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the Recitation of the Rosary at 9:30 a.m. A Requiem Mass will be con-celebrated at 10 a.m. by Father David Lopez and longtime family friend, Monsignor Michael Braun. Interment will follow at Historic Union Cemetery, 730 Potomac Avenue, Bakersfield.

Gary was born in Bakersfield, the only child of Joseph and Ernestine Leary. Growing up on a dairy farm, his father instilled a great work ethic in him at an early age. Among his responsibilities, he was expected to milk the cows before heading to school.

Gary attended South High School and was a member of its inaugural graduation class. He also attended Bakersfield Junior College and Cal Poly. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served during Vietnam as Lance Corporal. He was a gun and rifle instructor and the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal.

After the service, Gary met the love of his life, Deborah Cerri on Valentine’s Day in 1968 at Pyrenees, the iconic cafe her family ran. To this day, that date remains one of the most important to them. The couple married four years later, and would have marked their 55th wedding anniversary next week. Their union produced two boys - Anthony and Joey.

Gary and his father also raised horses and passed down the equine tradition to his children and grandchildren. Most of his career was spent in farming and agricultural sales, the past 15 years with Ag Water Chemical.

Gary was a dedicated church and community volunteer. He converted to Catholicism shortly before his marriage. As a lifelong devoted Catholic, he served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector at his home parish of OLPH. Gary was a hands-on father and grandparent, attending every game, practice, and activity of his children and grandchildren, and often mentoring some of his boys’ classmates.

Gary was among the original barbecue fundraising crew captained by Gary Icardo and Judge Gary Friedman which served up delicious steak dinners for organizations such as Cal State Bakersfield, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Garces Memorial High School, and St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Center.

Growing up on a farm, Gary had an affinity for animals, and he never met a stray that he didn’t bring home. He was also an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt. He never missed an opening day of dove season. For many years, he hunted with his pastor, Father Logan, who would bless the day with a prayer and a swig of brandy. After Logan’s passing, it became a Leary family hunting tradition to fire the first shot from the priest’s gun.

Just weeks before his death, Gary finally participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, DC with his son Anthony. It was years in the making. When the program that transports veterans to the nation’s capital began, he never felt worthy of taking a space he thought someone else deserved more. That was Gary. Always thinking of others. He was the consummate gentleman who endeared himself to others with his kindness and warm personality.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, and his in-laws Alvin and Catherine Cerri. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, sons, grandchildren Hunter and Lauren Leary, sister-in-law Susan Cerri Buck and her husband Grady, brother-in-law Michael Cerri and his wife Karen, and stepbrother Jeryl Matthews. Gary is also survived by his niece Catherine Cerri, and nephews Dominic and Alexander Cerri, and his Godson Steven Teglia.

Heartfelt appreciation to the team at Hoffmann Hospice Home. Pallbearers will be Hunter Leary, Marc, Matthew, and Steven Teglia, and Dominic and Alexander Cerri.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Gary’s memory to Honor Flight Kern County, 8200 Stockdale Highway, Suite M-10, Box 255, Bakersfield, CA 93311, or by visiting honorflightkerncounty.org.

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