Gary L. Dean entered into the presence of the Lord on Friday, May 22, 2026. He was born on September 27, 1950, to Dexter and Marguerite Westfall Dean. On August 15, 1981, he married the love of his life, Debbie Fleming Dean.
Gary retired from Corhart Refractories after 36 years of dedicated service. During retirement, he enjoyed buying, selling, and trading guns, antiques, and coins. He loved fishing, hunting, playing cornhole, dominoes, and cards, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Gary cherished family traditions and created many treasured memories through annual ramp digs, sled riding adventures, boating trips, and jet skiing with those he loved most. He was a devoted Christian and attended Kesling Mill Community Church for most of his life.
He is survived by his loving wife, Debbie Dean; his daughter, Shelly Skelton and husband Keith; his sons, Jeff Dean and wife Sue, and Josh Dean and wife Anna. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Taylor Tenney, Isaac Skelton and wife Kaitlyn, Dalton Dean, Kaylynn Dean, Brooke Dean, and Grace Dean; and by his great-grandson, Clark Tenney.
Also surviving are his siblings, Margaret Strouth, Dwayne Dean and wife Vickie, and Debbie Rice and husband Kenny; sisters-in-law, Shirley Dean and Darlene Dean; and brother-in-law, Hubert Fleming and wife Chris and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws Tommy and Ruth Fleming, his brothers, David Dean and Maynard Dean; his brother-in-law, Joe Strouth and niece Vicki Jo Strouth Billie.
Friends will be received at the Heavner & Cutright Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 4-7 PM. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Funeral Chapel with Pastor Eric Rice officiating. Interment will follow in the Kesling Mill Cemetery.
