Gerrit "Gary" Hyde Jr.

Gerrit “Gary” Smith Hyde, Jr.; of Orion Township; 94; November 15, 2022.  The son of Gerrit S. Hyde, Sr. and Margaret H. Stoddard, Gary was raised in the small village of Waterville in upstate New York.  While growing up there he made several life-long friends and always enjoyed returning to rehash stories.

Gary was a Navy veteran of WWII and Korea.  Using the GI Bill, he earned a BA degree from Hobart College.  There he met his future wife, E. Claire Hyde.  They were together for 57 years before her passing in 2012.

Gary had a long career as a Finance Manager with General Electric with career moves from New York to Florida, Ohio, and finally Michigan.  After retiring, he continued to work for North Oakland Transit Authority as a van driver, a job he dearly loved.

Gary had a passion for flying and model trains.  He achieved a commercial pilot’s license and enjoyed flying aerobatics.  He spent countless hours improving and expanding his never-ending train layout.

Late in life, Gary enjoyed meeting friends at the Lake Orion Senior Center.  The librarian at the center, Mary, named this group of friends “Mary’s Mighty Mumblers”, a moniker he enjoyed.

Gary leaves behind two sons, Robert and Bruce, and a daughter Leslie, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial Services will be held on Monday, November 21, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Square Lake Cemetery in Orion Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society .  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, Lake Orion.