Gary Lee Groves,

Groves, Gary Lee, Sr., age 80, of Friendly, WV died Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Marietta Memorial Hospital, Marietta, OH. He was born on May 5, 1937 in Sistersville, WV, a son of the late Otis and Zelma Summers Grove. Gary had a robust work ethic that demanded that a job needed to be finished completely, quickly, and correctly, and if he had the opportunity to venture above and beyond what was required in order to please someone else, he would do so with gleeful enthusiasm because he believed so strongly in treating others the way he wished to be treated. He applied these principles while serving four years in the U.S. Navy, while working more than 30 years as a machinist at Union Carbide’s Friendly, WV plant, and during his post-retirement stint as a widely sought-after gunsmith. Gary was a Protestant by faith; a member of the Wetzel Lodge #39 A.F.& A.M., New Martinsville, WV and a member of the former I.O.O.F. Lodge, Friendly, WV. Survivors include his wife, Linda Buchanan Groves; one son, Gary Lee Groves, Jr.; one daughter, Cynthia J. Groves; one brother, James (Blye) Grove, all of Friendly; one sister, Madonna Smith of Parkersburg, WV; and several nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends at the Myers Funeral Home, 600 Main St., Sistersville, WV from 5-8 pm Friday where funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday with Bishop Adrian "Abe" Cowgill officiating. Interment will follow in the Friendly Cemetery with full military graveside honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Journey Hospice, 314 S. Wells St., Sistersville, WV 26175.