I am ashamed to say I don't remember the exact date that Gary died. I was at his funeral. The church, as I remember, was near Pohlman and New Halls Ferry Road. I sat in the back with our high school chemistry teacher, listening to the preacher give a carefully worded, non-personal, generic eulogy trying to comfort Gary"s sisters, mother, and his mother's elderly friends. Fifteen years earlier and the church would have been overflowing with Gary's friends and classmates. By the time he died Gary's life had drastically changed.
I first met Gary when I moved to St. Anthony Lane in 1969. Our back yard abbutted and we spent alot of time playing together that year, although by no means were we best buddies. I moved away with my family and then returned to the same house in 10th grade and we renewed our friendship. Gary always had different sides as long as I knew him. He was full of energy, handsome, brash and some thought arrogant. He could be impulsive and bore easily He was athletic and smart. He hung with the pretty girls and the popular people. He could do a little experimenting.
The other Gary, the one I knew best, could hang out playing whiffle ball in the back yard for hours, or sit aroung talking with Jeff Clark and myself, asking question to which there were never answers and dreaming about tomorrow.We spent many summer evenings playing tennis at Dunegant Park or playing basketball on the outdoor court.s. Often we would drive downtown at the last minute and buy a seat to the Cardinals game for a dollar and just relax.
Our senior year in high school ,we played basketball for Parker Road Baptist Church. In order to play, Gary had to attend Sunday school 2 weeks of the month. I am not sure the Pastor ever had a more inquisitive , demanding student than Gary.
In high school Gary and I ran with different crowds. He always treated me well and protected me when neccessary.(usually from his other group of friends) I could always count on him coming by to hang out.or play sports.
I didn't see much of Gary in college. He and I went different directions.
Gary got married in his 20s for a short time. He met his wife at a rest stop, on a solo roadtrip to California one summer. He was headed west, she was going east. She was so smitten with Gary that she didn't want him to leave her at the rest stop, so she stole his wallet , jumped in her car and took off. Gary followed and not too long later they were married.
I don't know when Gary's health problems began. I know by the time we became re-acquainted in our late twenties and thirties he was living at home, working odd jobs, and already in poor health . We played golf occasionally when he was doing ok, and on many of those days he was the old Gary: athletic, fun , charming and inquisitive.
His last few year he disappered from my life for increasingly longer periods of time. I kept contact with his mother and wasn't surprised one day when she called and told me he had died.
Many of you may have known Gary longer and better than I did. Gary and my life intersected and separated several times, and during those years I didn't see him , I have no idea what he was like or what he did. He was my friend and I miss the 6th grader who I played 4 square with and the high school buddy I hung out with. I thought he deserved a more personal eulogy then he received, and I am grateful for anyone that took the time to read this . Thank you Jay Walden
Gary was my "catty-corner" neighbor for as long I can remember. I moved to Broadmere Dr. right before 1st grade started at Mark Twain. Gary was there, at the corner of Bonnie Ct. He was, indeed, handsome, charming, witty, intelligent, challenging of everything accepted by most people. He was the first boy to ever kiss me. We were in 1st grade and he told me he would marry me one day. All through our school years, we had a friendship that was competitive in school, and love/hate in the neighborhood. He teased and made fun of me, at times, talked and shared questions about the meaning of life and the universe at others. We danced around the idea of a relationship a number of times during our junior and senior high years, and went out a couple of times in senior high, after both of us had been through a hard break-up.
I married when I was 19 and left Florissant, and the state of Missouri for quite a few years. By early '90's I was living in Glen Carbon, IL with my own family. My parents still lived on Broadmere Dr. and the Crockers still lived at the corner of Bonnie Ct. It must have been my late mother who informed me of Gary's death. She passed away in 2001 and no one else I've asked remembers having told me about Gary's passing. I remember feeling shocked and incredibly sad. Gary Crocker was a constant in my life from 1st to 12th grade, living a literal baseball throw away from my front door. He was gifted and talented in so many ways. I will always wonder about his adult years and what really happened to cause them to end so early.
You will never be forgotten by your neighbor and first girlfriend, Gary!
Thank you, Jay, for the wonderful post and your cherished memories of your friendship you shared with Gary. I was deeply moved to learn of Gary's passing and did not have this knowledge prior my involvement with this wonderful generated site.
I remember meeting Gary in Kindergarten and became great classmate friends through junior high. We had the same recess interest at Mark Twain, if I remember, and shared the fun of tether ball and playing on the "Jungle Jim Cowboy". As I attended McCluer High, many friends attended McCluer North and Gary being one of them. Other than sport game attendance and maybe a school dance or two, a warm "Hi" , with a smile was our only exchange we had during these high school events. He was a very genuine friend to me and always appeared very sincere with our friendship. Later, after graduation from high school, we met again at a fraternity homecoming in Rolla. At that time, he was attending the University and planned to major in electrical engineering, I believe. He again greeted me warmly and genuine and was surprised to see that I was there. In his own subtle way, he made sure to let me know that he was there if I needed anything.
First I would like to say a big thank you to Alyson for establishing this site for anyone to reconnect. Jay what a wonderful friend you truly were to Gary. My recall of Gary was during our middle school and junior high classes. He was handsome, witty and charming, especially with the girls. I use to think he would end up in movies and we would see him on the big screen as he was so much like James Dean!!... I do recall a conversation with him one day as we spoke about "girls and boys"...The only reason I recall this was because he was so sincere while we talked. He told me that a girl named Carrie would always have his heart. My friend Joe Lanham knew Gary well and that is how I heard of his passing so long ago. We can only hope he is truly living his dreams up above.
Yesterday I received an email from an obituary site, reminding me of the anniversary of Gary’s mother’s death. I must have posted a note on the site when she died. I had been thinking about Gary lately. Now 20 years since his death, I still struggle with such promise lost.
Jay Walden (1970)
I am ashamed to say I don't remember the exact date that Gary died. I was at his funeral. The church, as I remember, was near Pohlman and New Halls Ferry Road. I sat in the back with our high school chemistry teacher, listening to the preacher give a carefully worded, non-personal, generic eulogy trying to comfort Gary"s sisters, mother, and his mother's elderly friends. Fifteen years earlier and the church would have been overflowing with Gary's friends and classmates. By the time he died Gary's life had drastically changed.
I first met Gary when I moved to St. Anthony Lane in 1969. Our back yard abbutted and we spent alot of time playing together that year, although by no means were we best buddies. I moved away with my family and then returned to the same house in 10th grade and we renewed our friendship. Gary always had different sides as long as I knew him. He was full of energy, handsome, brash and some thought arrogant. He could be impulsive and bore easily He was athletic and smart. He hung with the pretty girls and the popular people. He could do a little experimenting.
The other Gary, the one I knew best, could hang out playing whiffle ball in the back yard for hours, or sit aroung talking with Jeff Clark and myself, asking question to which there were never answers and dreaming about tomorrow.We spent many summer evenings playing tennis at Dunegant Park or playing basketball on the outdoor court.s. Often we would drive downtown at the last minute and buy a seat to the Cardinals game for a dollar and just relax.
Our senior year in high school ,we played basketball for Parker Road Baptist Church. In order to play, Gary had to attend Sunday school 2 weeks of the month. I am not sure the Pastor ever had a more inquisitive , demanding student than Gary.
In high school Gary and I ran with different crowds. He always treated me well and protected me when neccessary.(usually from his other group of friends) I could always count on him coming by to hang out.or play sports.
I didn't see much of Gary in college. He and I went different directions.
Gary got married in his 20s for a short time. He met his wife at a rest stop, on a solo roadtrip to California one summer. He was headed west, she was going east. She was so smitten with Gary that she didn't want him to leave her at the rest stop, so she stole his wallet , jumped in her car and took off. Gary followed and not too long later they were married.
I don't know when Gary's health problems began. I know by the time we became re-acquainted in our late twenties and thirties he was living at home, working odd jobs, and already in poor health . We played golf occasionally when he was doing ok, and on many of those days he was the old Gary: athletic, fun , charming and inquisitive.
His last few year he disappered from my life for increasingly longer periods of time. I kept contact with his mother and wasn't surprised one day when she called and told me he had died.
Many of you may have known Gary longer and better than I did. Gary and my life intersected and separated several times, and during those years I didn't see him , I have no idea what he was like or what he did. He was my friend and I miss the 6th grader who I played 4 square with and the high school buddy I hung out with. I thought he deserved a more personal eulogy then he received, and I am grateful for anyone that took the time to read this . Thank you Jay Walden
Alyson Keirle (Angus) (1970)
Jay, I think you just delivered the eulogy Gary deserved. Thank you! You truly touched his essence!
Louise Ahrens (Rusk) (1970)
Gary was my "catty-corner" neighbor for as long I can remember. I moved to Broadmere Dr. right before 1st grade started at Mark Twain. Gary was there, at the corner of Bonnie Ct. He was, indeed, handsome, charming, witty, intelligent, challenging of everything accepted by most people. He was the first boy to ever kiss me. We were in 1st grade and he told me he would marry me one day. All through our school years, we had a friendship that was competitive in school, and love/hate in the neighborhood. He teased and made fun of me, at times, talked and shared questions about the meaning of life and the universe at others. We danced around the idea of a relationship a number of times during our junior and senior high years, and went out a couple of times in senior high, after both of us had been through a hard break-up.
I married when I was 19 and left Florissant, and the state of Missouri for quite a few years. By early '90's I was living in Glen Carbon, IL with my own family. My parents still lived on Broadmere Dr. and the Crockers still lived at the corner of Bonnie Ct. It must have been my late mother who informed me of Gary's death. She passed away in 2001 and no one else I've asked remembers having told me about Gary's passing. I remember feeling shocked and incredibly sad. Gary Crocker was a constant in my life from 1st to 12th grade, living a literal baseball throw away from my front door. He was gifted and talented in so many ways. I will always wonder about his adult years and what really happened to cause them to end so early.
You will never be forgotten by your neighbor and first girlfriend, Gary!
Louise Ahrens Rusk
Augusta Wold (McGowan) (1970)
Thank you, Jay, for the wonderful post and your cherished memories of your friendship you shared with Gary. I was deeply moved to learn of Gary's passing and did not have this knowledge prior my involvement with this wonderful generated site.
I remember meeting Gary in Kindergarten and became great classmate friends through junior high. We had the same recess interest at Mark Twain, if I remember, and shared the fun of tether ball and playing on the "Jungle Jim Cowboy". As I attended McCluer High, many friends attended McCluer North and Gary being one of them. Other than sport game attendance and maybe a school dance or two, a warm "Hi" , with a smile was our only exchange we had during these high school events. He was a very genuine friend to me and always appeared very sincere with our friendship. Later, after graduation from high school, we met again at a fraternity homecoming in Rolla. At that time, he was attending the University and planned to major in electrical engineering, I believe. He again greeted me warmly and genuine and was surprised to see that I was there. In his own subtle way, he made sure to let me know that he was there if I needed anything.
Thank you for honoring Gary.
Kathi Jones (1970)
First I would like to say a big thank you to Alyson for establishing this site for anyone to reconnect. Jay what a wonderful friend you truly were to Gary. My recall of Gary was during our middle school and junior high classes. He was handsome, witty and charming, especially with the girls. I use to think he would end up in movies and we would see him on the big screen as he was so much like James Dean!!... I do recall a conversation with him one day as we spoke about "girls and boys"...The only reason I recall this was because he was so sincere while we talked. He told me that a girl named Carrie would always have his heart. My friend Joe Lanham knew Gary well and that is how I heard of his passing so long ago. We can only hope he is truly living his dreams up above.
Jay Walden (1970)
Yesterday I received an email from an obituary site, reminding me of the anniversary of Gary’s mother’s death. I must have posted a note on the site when she died. I had been thinking about Gary lately. Now 20 years since his death, I still struggle with such promise lost.