Gary Lee Rigney, 76, of Huntsville, died at Crestwood Hospital on Saturday, April 4, 2015. Born in Centerville, Kansas, to Virginia Lee Canaday and Gerald Joseph Rigney, he grew up in Pensacola, Florida and Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduating from Central High School in Tulsa, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served during the Korean Conflict as a combat air crew member and an electronic warfare instructor.
Following his naval service, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. He pursued graduate studies in mathematics at UCLA and attended the University of Tulsa under a North American Aviation Fellowship. He earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Tulsa, in 1972 he earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa School of Law, and studied Patent Law at New York University. Early on in his career he served as a Research Assistant at the University of Oklahoma Physics Research Center, Senior Research Engineer at North American Aviation and Radiation, Inc., Project Manager at Rockwell International. Utilizing both his engineering skills and his legal education, he worked as a senior systems engineer at Teledyne-Brown Engineering, as an Instructor of Real Estate and Business Policy at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, as General Counsel for the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and as a senior scientist at BDM Corporation. He achieved his greatest success and professional happiness in the private practice of law in Huntsville, where he was widely respected as an advisor and as a trial advocate, most recently working with the firm of Maynard Cooper and Gale PC in Huntsville.
While still in high school, Gary met the love of his life, Carol Mason. They were married in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, on December 17, 1960, and had recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Mason Rigney; daughters, Stephanie Kristen Herrin and husband, Roger Herrin, and Gabrielle N. Helix and husband, Bruce A. Helix; three grandchildren; mother, Virginia Canaday Biffle; sister, Geneva Murray; and brother, Leslie Biffle.
Gary was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed collecting and using antique fountain pens. He especially loved raising and showing dogs. Two of his dogs were AKC Champion bull terriers, Sweet William D’Page and Al E. Gator. His beloved companion, a rescued bull terrier named Wiley, survived him by two days and died on April 6.
Friends wishing to commemorate Gary’s life may make contributions to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
No funeral services are planned. Friends and family are invited to gather at The Ledges, 32 Castledown Drive, Huntsville, on Friday, April 10, from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. to share memories and to celebrate the life of Gary Lee Rigney.
