GLENS FALLS – Bernard “Bernie” R. Gregory, 82, of Third Street, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 4, 2021 at Glens Falls Hospital.
Bernie, a Glens Falls native and life-long resident, was born on Thursday, Nov. 24, 1938. He was one of five children.
He was the beloved husband of Joyce Ann LaFarr, who sadly predeceased him in 2009. Joyce and Bernie met in 1956 and were married in 1957. Together they started a family in Glens Falls having three children, George, Bernie, and Betsy. After several years, life chose a different path for Bernie and he and Joyce parted temporarily.
Bernie and Joyce spent eight years apart, but never lost their love for one another. In 1978 Bernie was reunited with his teenage sweetheart only now their family included a new member, his stepson Jimmy. For more than 30 years they raised their four children and several grandchildren.
Bernie was not just a loving husband, father “Dad”, and grandfather “Pa”, he also had a rewarding career at Glens Falls Portland Cement Co., now Lehigh Cement. He worked at the cement company for decades and was so proud to drive the huge Caterpillar front end loaders in their pits. He was so proud driving family and friends into the mill to show them his loader.
For those who knew Bernie, it was obvious he absolutely cherished his family, especially the little ones. He loved to dress the babies up in goofy clothes and hats just to get a laugh. Bernie loved people and if you were blessed to know him you couldn’t help but love him. He would enjoy a conversation with anyone about anything, but he definitely could not “make a long story short”.
When Bernie wasn’t spending time with family or working at the mill you could find him cruising on his motorcycle, a Honda Goldwing. In his words “that baby floats over the road” and he loved to punch it, “oh baby”! He was also an amazing deer hunter. We all have heard him tell stories of how he shot at four deer and dropped each one with his trusty .270.
Sadly, Bernie was predeceased by his love Joyce, son George H. Gregory Sr., granddaughter Theresa Mulcahy, brother Edgar, brother Anthony, and sister Beatrice (Gregory) Shaw.
Survivors include his son, Bernie Gregory and his wife, Kelly of South Glens Falls and their children Ben and Hannah, his daughter, Betsy Sanders and her husband, Gary of Queensbury, and her children, Charlie and Ronnie; his stepson, Jim LaFarr, and his wife, Dori of Queensbury, and their son Tanner; his grandson, George Gregory Jr.; and a sister, Mary (Gregory) Alger who he recently reunited with by traveling to Virginia for his first time on a jet plane. Bernie was also blessed with numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins, who he loved dearly.
Family and friends are asked to call from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at the Carleton Funeral Home Inc., 68 Main St., in Hudson Falls.
Burial will follow the calling hours, 1:30 p.m., at Corinth Rural Cemetery, 38 Saratoga Ave. in Corinth, with the Reverend Patti Girard, officiating.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.carletonfuneralhome.net.
Your smile will be deeply missed. We love you Uncle Bernie!
Bernie you are going to be missed by so many people. Whenever you would call my husband I knew I would hear your smile in your voice. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family today. I know how much love you had for them. sorry you didn’t get back south to visit your sister again. You were so happy to reunite with her.
Rest In Peace Bernie.
Bob and Diane
To the family of Bernie,
We are saddened in the loss of Bernie and hope you are comforted by his memories of happy times of his life with family friends and neighbors
You always had a smile! We enjoyed working with you and the breakfasts we had with you and the old guys from the mill. Had great laughs. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I only recently got to know Bern when he came to visit his sister Mary in Virginia. I’ve never met anyone who enjoyed life so much. His kindness, sense of humer, and love for his family and friends made him special to anyone lucky enough to know him.
Jim and I had fun with you and enjoyed the once a month retirees breakfast. Gonna miss your smile.
Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Bernie’s sweet and kind spirit was like no other. He would help out anyone. What a genuine and very missed man. He loved a good Portland Cement Co story.
Bernie was such a wonderful man and I considered him a friend even though I work for Walgreens. I always talked to him and he was always asking if I was working. I went to his house with my husband and he was so proud of his family. I remember him having to show me his collections like his coffee cups and mugs, his gazebo and his beautiful Caddy. He wanted to fix my old fashioned singer sewing machine but I didn’t want to to use him. He even told me to put it on his porch which I never did because I just loved talking to him. I was so happy that he reunited with his sister and he was so very excited to see her. I always surprised him that I remembered that his birthday was in November. He always brought in our shopping carts no matter how many and if it was raining. I always told him not to worry about it. I will always remember the last conversation with him, he told me that he didn’t think he had long to live and I told him that he he had plenty of time left. I will miss him so very much. I am so very sorry I am glad that my husband and I got to say our goodbyes on Saturday. I am so very sorry again, he will always be in my heart as a great man. 😢
I will also plant a memorial plant for him.