MSGT. GARY PIPER

NEVADA, Mo.- Graveside committal services with military honors will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, at Sheldon Cemetery for Master Sergeant (MSgt.) Gary Bray Piper, 80, who died Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, Mo.

The obituary may be viewed and condolences sent online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Reba; three sons Gary Jr. (Ben), Lebo, Kan., Rick (Melinda), Sheldon and Tom (Angie), Springfield; five grandchildren, Mitch Topping (Kourtney), Thompsons Station, Tenn., Spencer Piper (Kelsey), Springfield, Cydnee Regers (Clay), Butler, Tucker Piper (Lauren), Springfield and Sawyer Piper, Springfield and four great-grandchildren, Konner Topping, Brylee Topping, Grayson Piper and Lane Piper.

Msgt. Piper was born Feb. 14, 1940, in Muskegon, Mich., to Richard and Dorolese (Bray) Piper. He graduated from Bera High School in Ohio. He honorably served his country as a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in the United States Air Force for 20 years. His first duty station was Selfridge AFB, Mich., where he served as an F-106 and F-4 Crew Chief and mechanic. His final duty station was Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he served as an F-4 instructor. He served two tours overseas; a one-year deployment to Vietnam and a one-year tour in Thailand. Following retirement, he continued his service to the military by teaching the next generation as a Jr. ROTC instructor at Nevada High School for 11 years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to the Nevada Jr. ROTC program.

His wife says that he had many loves in his life and acknowledges that she was not the first. His first love would have to be his F-106 Jet which he took to the William Tell Contest. Second, was his love of the Dallas Cowboys; if they were playing he could be found yelling or cheering them on. Next, came his cocker spaniel dogs, to which he had several throughout the years. And lastly was his wife.