Gary Lee Verdine

Gary Lee Verdine

Newark—65, died on Thursday (September 1, 2016) at his home, with his family at his side, after a long battle with brain cancer.

Friends may call  from 4 -7 P.M. on Friday (September 9th) at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday (September 10th) at the First United Methodist Church, South Main Street, Newark. Burial will be in East Newark Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials  may be made in his name to the Organ Fund, First United Methodist Church, PO Box 189, Newark, New York 14513 or to Adding Candles, Inc., PO Box 10717, Rochester, New York 14610 (all funds go to brain cancer research at Wilmot Cancer Center). 

Gary was born February 3, 1951 in Rochester, the son of the late Lyle and Evelyn Ghyzels Verdine. He graduated from Williamson High School, earned degrees in both Education and Music at Roberts Wesleyan College.  Gary continued at Nazareth College where he earned his Masters Degree in Education. He loved teaching, and for thirty nine and a half years, Gary taught at the Lyons Elementary School mainly in the second grade.

At the age of 16, he started playing the organ at the Free Methodist Church in East Williamson. For the next thirty years, he was their organist and choir director.. He took a year off but soon found himself as the organist and in the choir at the First United Methodist Church in Newark.  

Gary enjoyed swimming, traveling, flower gardening, caring for his lawn and his big joy - decorating for Christmas.   However number one by far was spending his time with his wife and daughters.

He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Patricia “Pat Jordan” Verdine, twin daughters Anna and Kathryn both at home; special sister-in-law Joyce Verdine; siblings Alan (Betty) Verdine and Debbie (Brian) Kelsey; special aunt and uncle Doris and Luther Humbert; special niece Dayla (Matt) Terp; special nephews Steven (Shana) Verdine, Celeb and Chad Burlee; nephews Danny (Kim) amd David (Roberta) Verdine,  Gary was predeceased by a brother Dale.

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