Gary Lee Preston

On Monday, November 18, 2019, Gary Lee Preston, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at the age of 67.

Gary was born on July 12, 1952 in Nicholasville, KY to Virgil Taft Preston Jr. and Anne Caroline. He graduated High school from Fletcher High school in Jacksonville FL in 1971 and joined the Army in 1971 as an Army Ranger. On January 23, 1975, he married Millie Preston. They raised two daughters, Michele and Wendy.

Gary had a passion for Horses as a young child, raising horses on the families 85 acres farm. He also loved to fish and combined the two creating an extraordinary passion for the outdoors much admired by the family. He was also an avid country music lover and a collector of watches. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, a laugh that would brighten the room, and a compassionate and determined spirit.

Gary was preceded in death by his father Virgil, his mother, Anne his sister Deborah, his brother Tommy and nephew Scott. He is survived by his wife of 46 years Millie, his two daughters, Michele (Dave McDonald) and Wendy (Todd Highsmith), his two sisters Cindy (Richard McNeil) and Missy (Mike Hallbick). He has five grandchildren, Charlotte (Luke Gainey), DJ (Yohanna Whitehead), Rebecca, Alex and Kendra, five great grandchildren, Autumn, Ellie, Luke, Gabriel and Grant and several cousins, nieces, and nephew.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, November 21st, 2019 at Giddens-Reed Funeral Home, 270 US Highway 301, North, Baldwin, FL, 904-266-2337 (www.giddensreedfh.com). The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Thursday prior to the service. A graveside service will also be held at the Jacksonville National Cemetery at 1:00 PM followed by a reception at Westside Baptist Church, 7775 Herlong Road, Jacksonville.

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