Garry J. Hess, 76, passed away after a long illness on Feb. 8, 2014. He was born on May 14, 1937, in Pratt, Kansas, to Elmer and Mary Anna Hess, deceased. He is survived by his wife, Teresa (Terry); one sister, Galene Swafford of Pratt, Kansas; four nieces and nephews; and five loyal cousins scattered in states west of Missouri.
After high school, Garry received a BA from Fort Hays University in Kansas and went on to teach high school classes in art in Kansas for nine years, following which he pursued an MA at Kansas State College of Pittsburg (currently Pittsburg State University). While there, he met his future wife, Teresa (Terry) Carney, who was also working on her MA. The couple married on December 27, 1972.
After obtaining his MA in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing in 1971, Garry set up the Jewelry area in the Art Department at Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, Missouri. He remained as an Associate Professor at Missouri Southern until he retired in 2002.
Garry and Terry spent their retirement years enjoying traveling to many countries in Western Europe, as well as Russia. Garry’s favorite destinations were Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Another of Garry’s passions was participation in hunting and conservation organizations. His favorite was The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, in which he was active for over 20 years.
Following cremation, Garry’s remains will rest in his wife’s family plot in The Rolla Cemetery in Rolla, Missouri. A memorial service is planned at Parker Mortuary on Friday, Feb. 21st at 4:00 p.m., after which, the family will receive friends at the mortuary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made through Parker Mortuary to the Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation or Ozark Public Television.
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