Edmund "Gary" Garrett Nash's Obituary
Big Rapids - Edmund Garrett (Gary) Nash, 85, of Big Rapids, passed away peacefully at home on November 13, 2022.
He was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin on November 19, 1936, the son of Edwin L. and Hedwig (Swanke) Nash, and graduated from Lincoln High School there. Gary then earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1959. He continued his education with a Ph. D. in Chemistry from the University of Colorado (1965) and a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University (1966-67). Gary married Carol Ann (Morton) Nash on September 2, 1961, in Evanston, Illinois. They had two children, Steven Garrett Nash and Joanna Katherine Nash. On June 16, 2001, he married Janet Slick (Bishop) in Big Rapids.
Gary started his career as a Senior Research Chemist at General Mills in 1965. In 1967, he and his family moved to Big Rapids, MI where Gary began working for Ferris State College as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. While at Ferris, he advanced to Associate Professor (1970-77), Professor (1977-79), Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (1979-84), Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs (1984-87), and Vice President for Academic Affairs (1987-1992). Gary wrote numerous publications, papers, and articles during his academic career as well as held several patents.
He loved to play racquetball and tennis, was an avid skier, golfer, fisherman, and enjoyed trap and skeet shooting. Gary loved spending time with family and friends and spending his winters in Arizona. He had a passion for travel and never passed up the opportunity to visit friends and family.
Gary will be dearly missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Janet; his children, Steve (Sharon) Nash of Bettendorf, Iowa and Joanna Nash-Butler of Westchester, Illinois; stepdaughter Becki Halloran of Simpsonville, South Carolina; stepson Tom Bishop; grandchildren, Olivia (Erik) Veker, Alexander Butler; Jacqueline Nash, William Nash, Cody (Lindsay) Halloran, Keegan Halloran, Travis and Ariel Wing, and Nicki and Avery Moreno; great grandson Erik Carl Veker Jr; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Gary was preceded in death by his parents and his bother Edwin in 2019.
Respecting his wishes, a private celebration of life will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Janet L. Nash and Dr. E.G Nash scholarship fund (Ferris State University). The Nash family would like to extend their gratitude and thanks to Elara Caring Hospice for their tremendous compassion and care. Care and arrangements are entrusted to the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Share a memory or express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com.
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