Gary Mark Luna passed away at NHC Maury Regional Transitional Care Center on January 1, 2024. Gary was born in Pulaski, TN on January 23, 1948, and was 75 years of age.
Gary grew up in Lynnville, TN where he attended Jones High School. Soon after high school he married his high school sweetheart, Jan Luna. Gary and Jan had two children. He loved and cared for them both, they were always his top priority. Gary was an amazing dad who always ensured the family was taken care of. There was never going to be a life event that he did not have the family prepared for.
During the first few years of marriage, Gary balanced a full-time job, attended college at night and started his family. Soon after his daughter was born, he was drafted by the Army and served in Vietnam. He experienced front-line fighting in the war. Lucky for him and the family, he survived the war to return home and have his second child, his son.
After living in the Atlanta area for several years, he returned home to Giles County working for Jack’s Cookie Company. He would quickly be promoted to a production supervisor of the moon pie production line. During this time Jack’s Cookie Company was purchased by Frito Lay. Soon after this transition the moon pie production line was sold to a business entrepreneur from Rome, GA. The business entrepreneur saw Gary’s knowledge of the process and offered him the job of Plant Manager of the new bakery named Mondo Baking Co.
While in Rome, GA dad grew a passion for gardening and landscaping. In, 1990, he decided to leave Mondo Baking and start his own landscaping business named Rock Water Gardens. While running the business, he touched many people with his knowledge for gardening. His customers were drawn to his passion and knew he could be trusted with his wealth of knowledge of trees, shrubs and flowers.
In 2004, Gary and Jan returned home once again to Giles County to plan for retirement. Gary could not sit still for very long, so he turned to helping people with their landscaping needs while developing great relationships. He used labor from New Cannon Ranch. New Cannon Ranch helps people with substance abuse issues. Gary took an interest in trying to help people turn their lives around. He would take them under his wing and provide invaluable guidance they desperately needed.
For those who knew Gary, you know he has never met a stranger. He was a loving and caring man that wanted to know who you were and how he could help you. His fun-loving smile and free spirit were infectious. His fingerprints are all over the people he touched in his life, especially his son. He will be dearly missed by many.
Gary was preceded in death by his wife Jan Luna, his daughter Mimi Jan Luna, his parents Mark & Margeret Luna, his sister Gypsy Nell Luna and his brother Johnny Luna.
Gary was survived by his son Andrew Bryan Luna of Brentwood, TN. Gary shaped his son for any life event that presented itself. His son is forever grateful for this and will truly miss their life discussions.
A memorial service will be held for Gary on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 3:00pm at Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home in Pulaski, TN. The family will be accepting visitors 2 hours prior to the service at 1:00pm. Friends and family will be providing words of celebration.
To appropriately honor Gary, the family requests that no ties be worn to the service. If you know Gary, this would make him smile as ties made no common sense to him.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in memory of Gary to be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). Information can be found at https://www.lbda.org/donate/.
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
