Gary Howard Luman, aged 86 years, 5 months and 16 days, of Modesto, died on July 7th, 2024 at home surrounded by family members. Born to Bernice Homer Luman and Cuma Hazel (Parham) Luman in Holdenville, Oklahoma on January 23, 1938, Gary graduated from Placer High School in 1957 and from Chico State University in 1965. He earned teaching credentials in industrial arts (woodshop) and a general secondary credential in 1966. Gary taught driver’s education, wood shop, and graphic arts at four Modesto high schools for 13 years and he taught wood shop at Turlock High School for 17 years. He also worked as a General Building Contractor for 9 years between his teaching jobs in Modesto & Turlock.
Gary met Janice Marie (Bills) in February 1960 and they were married on March 18th, 1962 (celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary this past March) and they had four children; Kevin, Heidi, Kyle & Brent. They raised their family on a 1.2 acre plot on Barnhart Road outside of Denair, and lived there from 1968-2016. Gary was actively involved in church leadership and the Awana clubs at the Turlock Evangelical Free Church and was on the school board of Turlock Christian Schools during the years that his children were growing up.
Gary retired from teaching in 2004, and spent his time as an avid gardener (sharing his garden’s abundant produce with many people), wood-worker & grandfather of his eight grandchildren; Fiona, Soraya, Emma, Kendall, Grant, Mattie, Ari & Christian. Gary always looked for ways to help and serve friends and others around him. A few years before retirement, Gary transformed the “big red barn” into a squab operation and raised and sold Squab through the Squab Producers of California until 2012.
Preceded in death by his parents, Bernice & Cuma Luman, Gary is survived by sisters LuEtta Luman & Beverly Shinn. Gary’s memory and legacy lives on through his wife, children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews (Kurt Shinn, Kendra Shinn Gouge, Garin Shinn, Garth Shinn & Melissa Laurita) and all of his students from 30 years of teaching high school in Turlock & Modesto.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Westside Ministry in Turlock, CA in Gary’s name.
Visitation will be held at Allen Mortuary on Friday July 19, 2024 from 5:00-7:00p.m. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Gary Howard Luman will be held on July 20th, 2024, at 10am at Allen Mortuary, 247 N. Broadway, Turlock, California. We will gather afterwards at the Carnegie Arts Center, Gemperle Room to reminisce about Gary’s life. Gary will be laid to rest in the Denair Cemetery.
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