Gary James Rick, 84, of Bartlett, Tennessee, passed away at Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis on June 29, 2023.
Gary was born on March 10, 1939, in Toledo, to the late John F. Rick and Jessie H. Rick (Baker).
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of more than 62 years, Geraldine ‘Gerri’ June Rick (Reece); a brother, Stanley Rick; three half-sisters, Doris, Joan and Carole, and half-brother, Jack; as well as his sister-inlaw, Paula, and her husband, Clarence ‘Sam’ Babcock.
Gary is survived by two sons, Michael Rick (Dawn), and Jeffrey Rick (Gerri); four grandchildren, Christina Rick, Anthony Rick (Brooke), Tasha Louison (Jeremy), Caleb Rick (Bailey); one stepgrandchild, Heather Sanders, and nine great-grandchildren, as well as a many friends and extended family.
Following his graduation from Perrysburg High School in 1956, Gary joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17-yearsold. He would go on to serve and make many lasting contributions to the nation during his numerous deployments, until his retirement in 1980, reaching the rank of Command Master Chief at the Naval Air Station in Millington, Tennessee.
After his career in the Navy, Gary graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of business administration from the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at Memphis State University in 1984. He would then go on to pursue a second career in banking, later retiring as an executive officer from First Tennessee Bank in 2000. Gary also served on the board of directors for First South Credit Union and was a founding member of Advent Presbyterian church.
Funeral services will be held at Memphis Funeral Home at 3700 North Germantown Road, Bartlett, Tennessee, on Saturday, July 22. The family will receive friends for a visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. A memorial service will begin immediately following visitation, followed by a full military service at Memphis Memory Gardens at 6444 Raleigh Lagrange Road, Memphis. Following interment, the Rick family will host a reception for family and friends at Memphis Funeral Home.