In Memory of Gary Lee Stamey, our friend, our brother Comanchero.


Gary Lee Stamey
Born in Haywood County on Feb. 10, 1951
Departed on Dec. 10, 2007 and resided in Candler, NC.

Gary Lee Stamey, age 56, died Monday, December 10, 2007, at his residence.

He was born in Haywood County, but always called Buncombe County his home. He was a former resident of Cody, WY and Meeker, CO. He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Ray Stamey. He graduated from Enka High School in 1969. After his military service, he worked in the Rocky Mountains for numerous companies and was formerly a western supervisor for NORPAC Exploration. He owned and operated his own business in North Carolina setting up and remodeling modular homes. Hunting, fishing, computers, and reading were activities Gary enjoyed.

He was a very dedicated veteran of the United States Army serving in Vietnam as a helicopter crew chief from February, 1969 until February, 1970. During his service, he was a recipient of two Bronze Stars, one Purple Heart, and 137 combat air medals. He was a lifetime member of the 101st Airborne Association and a lifetime member of the Vietnam Helicopter Crew Member Association. At the time of his death, he was a disabled veteran diagnosed with PTSD.

He is survived by his father Joyce Stamey and his wife, Bernice, of Candler and his mother, Barbara Holcombe and her husband, Carlton, of Weaverville; three brothers, Greg Stamey of Weaverville, and John and Randy “Baker” Stamey of Candler; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, December 15, 2007, at Ridgeway Baptist Church with the Reverend Jack W. Collins officiating. Over 250 friends and family attended the services. Burial was at the church cemetery with full military honors.


In Honor of my friend Gary Lee Stamey

Get Windows Media Player


The following photos were taken DEC 15, 2007, the day of the services for Gary Lee Stamey.

Photo by Bob Carr

Ridgeway Church

Photo by Bob Carr

The Comancheros in attendance were invited to arrive early to meet with the family before the services

Photo by Bob Carr

A Fort Bragg soldier presenting Gary Lee Stamey's mother the flag.

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros gathered at the gravesite during the services.

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros gathered at the gravesite during the services.

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Cemetery & Gravesite

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Cemetery & Gravesite

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Cemetery & Gravesite

Photo by Bob Carr

Services

Photo by Bob Carr

The sign on the way up Gary Lee's road, You are warned twice.

Photo by Bob Carr

Comancheros and other Screaming Eagle friends and family on Gary Lee's porch

Photo by Bob Carr

Comancheros gather to toast our Comanchero brother.

Photo by Martin DiOrio

John Riordan

Photo by Martin DiOrio

Photo by Martin DiOrio

Photo by Martin DiOrio

Photo by Martin DiOrio

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Randy Stamey and other relatives

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Breakfast at the Cracker Barrel

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Breakfast at the Cracker Barrel

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Herm Schindler presented this statue to the family

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

The view from the top of Broke Dick Mountain

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

The view from the top of Broke Dick Mountain

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

The old bus that Gary lee used to live in.

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Toasting Gary Lee

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Toasting Gary Lee

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Toasting Gary Lee

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Toasting Gary Lee

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and other friends

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Toasting Gary Lee

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Toasting Gary Lee

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Bob Carr tells Mama Stamey that the members in attendance adopt her as a Comanchero

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Hospitality room at our hotel

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Hospitality room at our hotel

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Hospitality room at our hotel

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Comancheros and Stamey family members at the hospitality room at our hotel

Photographs by Jerry and Nancy Wofford

Johnny, Randy, Momma, and Greg Stamey

Photos by Ron Kuhn

John Stallings, Richard Bittle, Tammy Stallings and Nancy Wofford

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros gather

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Toasting Gary Lee

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Toasting Gary Lee

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Toasting Gary Lee

Comancheros on Gary Lee's porch in remembrance and in honor of him. Seated left to right; Martin DiOrio, Paul Cauley, Michael Gouch, Bob Car and Herman Schindler. Standing behind; John Stallings, Richard Bittle, Gil Jones, Ron Kuhn Marc Goodell, Jerry Wofford, Smokey Stover and John Riordan.

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Baptist Church

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Baptist Church

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros pay their respects in the family receiving line

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros pay their respects in the family receiving line

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros and family members at the church

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros and family members at the church

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros and family members at the church

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros and family members at the church

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros and family members at the church

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Baptist church cemetery

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Baptist church cemetery

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Baptist church cemetery

Photos by Ron Kuhn

An eight man VFW honor guard. They did a 21 gun salute to Gary Lee. A volunteer bugler from the local high school played taps

Photos by Ron Kuhn

An eight man VFW honor guard. They did a 21 gun salute to Gary Lee. A volunteer bugler from the local high school played taps

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Family at the graveside

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Soldiers from Fort Bragg who preformed the flag ceremony

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros in attendance at the graveside services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Church Cemetery

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Church Cemetery Services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Church Cemetery Services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Church Cemetery Services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Church Cemetery Services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ridgeway Church Cemetery Services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Presentation of flag to Gary Lee Stamey's Mother

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Honor Guard captian pays his respects

Photos by Ron Kuhn

John Stallings and Richard Bittle after services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Arriving at Gary Lee's home

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Arriving at Gary Lee's home

Photos by Ron Kuhn

View from porch

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Nancy & Jerry Wofford and John Stallings

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Comancheros on the porch

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Richard Bittle and Gil Jones in the airport

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Arriving at the hotel on Friday night with our driver

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Our ride from the airport

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Gil Jones and Marty DiOrio

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Late night dinner on Friday

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Late night dinner on Friday

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Smokey Stover, Marc Goodell, Bob Carr and Richard Bittle

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Randy Stamey and other family members

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Nancy Wofford, Smokey Stover and Richard Bittle at breakfast

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Getting ready to leave for the services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Getting ready to leave for the services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Getting ready to leave for the services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Getting ready to leave for the services

Photos by Ron Kuhn

John Riordan

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Our bartender at the hospitality suite

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Gil Jones, Pony Tail Paul Cauley and Richard Bittle

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Randy Stamey toast Gary Lee with a taste of the jar.

This statue was presented to the family from Herm Schindler.

Photos by Ron Kuhn

John Riordan and Gary Lee's momma

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Gary Lee's Momma wearing her sons Comanchero hat.

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Randy Stamey

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Marc Goodell

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Greg Stamey

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Bob Carr

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Marty DiOrio

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Pony Tail Paul Cauley

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Jerry Wofford

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Boy friend of Gary Lee's barber

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Tammy and John Stallings

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Larry ?

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Michael Gouch

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Gary Lee's barber and her boy friend. She told me that for the last decade or so she has been Gary Lee's barber. Gary Lee used to pay her every month yet he would sometime go six months without getting his hair cut, he would pay anyway. Yep that is the Gary Lee I knew.

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Family member

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Reletive of Gary Lee and Nancy Wofford

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Ron Kuhn and Marty DiOrio

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Jerry Wofford

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Johnny Stamey, he is a 101st Airborne Veteran

Photos by Ron Kuhn

Greg Stamey and a cousin

Photos by Ron Kuhn

family friend wearing the summer Comanchero hat Gary lee gave him.

Photos by Ron Kuhn

family friend

Photos by Ron Kuhn

 

Copyright © 2008 A/101 AVN. All rights reserved.
Revised: 01/04/08.