Earlean Gary

Mother Earlean Gary, 80, of Elkhart went home to be with the Lord on August 21, 2017 after a brief illness. She was born on April 18, 1937 to George and Odessa Forrest in Bernie, Missouri. She relocated to Elkhart in 1955 and spent most of her working years as a chef. She later gained employment with Elkhart Community Schools where she retired from in 2002. On July 31, 1965, she married the late Rev. Allen Gary in Elkhart. She was the proud first lady of the New Testament M.B. Church of South Bend for over 35 years. In 2014, she returned to Community M.B. Church where she served as president of the Missionary Department. Mother Gary had a beautiful smile and a humble spirit. She never met a stranger. She was known for her stylish hats and her love for serving and feeding others. She loved her family, especially her grandbabies and she loved her God and wasn’t ashamed to own him anywhere she went. You could always count on a meal at her house. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 5 sisters, 1 brother and 4 children. She leaves to cherish precious memories 2 children, Loretta Bingham of Elkhart and David Anthony {Lori} Gary of Indianapolis, a granddaughter that she raised, Tiffany Forrest, 1 sister, Ruth Chavis, 1 special Goddaughter, Tobeter Smith, a dear and longtime friend, Jeanette Cantrell, 9 grandchildren, several great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends as well as her beloved Gary family and her New Testament and Community M.B. Church families. Our family would like to thank the nursing staff on the 4th floor of Elkhart General Hospital, Kindred Valleyview Nursing Home, Elkhart County Hospice, Pastor Dannell Brown and the Agape Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Clarence Jones and the Community Missionary Baptist Church for your love and kindness shown to our family during this extremely difficult time.

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