Ira "R.D." Gregory

R.D. Gregory, 80 went to be with the Lord on December 24, 2020. He was born April 21, 1940 in Merkel Texas, the son of Arthur Burk Gregory and Hazel (Gray) Gregory.

As a young man he enlisted in the Marines and was stationed in San Diego, CA. He later transferred to the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Dix New Jersey. While at Fort Dix he was assigned in the motor pool and learned to work on vehicles and machinery. After leaving the Army he began a career in the automotive field where he eventually opened and operated his own business.

While in New Jersey he met Laurel Jean Minier from East Hanover, New Jersey. On August 3, 1959, R.D. and Laurel joined in marriage.

R.D. liked to hunt and loved to fish. He taught his children to fish and later he was always tickled to take is grandchildren with him. It was during these times that he was mostly baiting hooks, untangling lines, and even fishing his own poles out of the lake. He never complained; well, not much anyway. He knew he would have plenty of time in his later years to peacefully fish. And that’s mostly what he had spent the last seven years doing alongside his brother and best buddy, Albert.

He is survived by his son Tommy Gregory and wife Wanda Gregory of Abilene, daughter Patty Gregory-Grant of Plano, and son Steve Gregory of Abilene. Grandchildren Jason, Jennifer, Amy, Hunter, Kelsey, Lexie and Emily. Great grandchildren Connor, Kayden, Kash, Kimber, Kolten.

Due to the current pandemic and for the safety of our friends and family, no memorial services are being scheduled at this time. We wish for everyone to set aside a personal time to reflect on who our Dad was and their personal memories of him. We also welcome all of you to visit his final resting place, where he will be joining our mother, Laurel at Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel TX.

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