Gregory Alan Clare, 65, of Harvest, Alabama, entered Heaven on October 25, 2024 after a long battle with Angiosarcoma. Greg was born on April 2, 1959 to Mary Jane Clare in Chicago, Illinois.
Greg graduated from Gordon Technical High School in 1977, then went on to serve four years in the United States Air Force where he received the honor graduate award in his flight at basic training. He was a green rope for his tech school class before he was stationed at Frances E Warren AFB in Cheyenne, WY. It was there that he served as a Missile Systems Analyst Specialist. He worked on the support equipment of the launch control facility and in missile silos in Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado. He was a master technician and earned the outstanding unit award with two oak clusters. He supported two operational launches of the Minute Man 3 Missile at Vandenberg AFB.
Greg went on to pursue college using his GI Bill to attend the University of Illinois Chicago where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. Greg’s dream became a reality when he began his thirty plus year career in the space industry. This dream started in childhood after watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. He did not become an astronaut, but he used to say he did everything he could to get the astronauts there!
Greg began his career in Paloma, CA at General Dynamics working on rolling airframe missile weapon systems and built-in tests. One year later, he moved on to Rockwell International to work on the Return to Flight program after the Challenger tragedy. He participated in the build and testing of Endeavour. Once it was delivered, he then moved on to Space Station Freedom and went to work for McDonnell Douglas in Houston, TX. A year in, Freedom was cancelled, and due to layoffs, he landed at Continental Airlines working as a Senior Avionics Engineer. He did engineering and installation of predictive Windshear systems for two years on the Continental Fleet. He was then called back to his job with McDonnell Douglas supporting ISS with Boeing working station management and control. He developed international protocols with the Russians for station management control for SMC functions. He shifted gears three years later and swapped badges to became part of the Boeing team. There, he managed the labs developing vertical rig management for ISS. He ran the team that kept the labs up and running supporting test activity. When the labs were in a sustaining mode, he moved to Huntsville, AL to work on missile defense. When Boeing won the contract for Ares, he went to work writing requirements for the program. Three years later, he shifted gears again and started working to support NASA on the Space Launch Systems program as the Boeing prime contractor of the stages contract. He wrote the requirements for the core and upper stages of the SLS Rocket. He moved to the Green Run test team at the end of his career where he supported many teams as an expert in test and verification of the stage controller. After successfully delivering the stage controller that communicated from the control room to the rocket, and proving that it worked as it was supposed to, he decided to retire. He’d achieved his dream and managed to work in some capacity on Columbia, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour. He was never without a story to tell!
In retirement, flight was still his passion. In 2018, he added a gyro plane endorsement to his fixed wing private license that he earned in 1986 and his helicopter private pilot’s licenses earned in 1994. He launched Emerald Specialty Services in 2019 to train student pilots in gyro plane flight. In 2023, he became a commercial gyro plane pilot and upgraded his Certified Flight Instructor Certificate to a commercial CFI. He could train and fly from sport to commercial. He successfully ran the business and fueled his own hobby until 2024.
In 2009, Greg met Angela and their love story began. Together they beautifully blended their families, and spent fifteen wonderful years together. Their children, Elizabeth Milam, Megan Byerly and Ian Clare gave them four beautiful grandchildren. Greg loved being a Grampy to Zeke & Mac Milam, Margot Byerly and Ava Clare. He often said grandparenting made up for all the mistakes you make as a parent, and it gives you a chance for the most amazing do over. Greg and Angela loved their second chance in life to experience love together; and through their children and grandchildren. There were no ‘steps’, they were just family. As much as they would have loved more time together, they never took the time they did have for granted, and a lifetime of memories were made. Through their love and shared faith, they created something wonderful. Greg will be so missed by Angela, their children, grandchildren, family and friends. There will always be a giant hole, but they will try to fill it by keeping his memory alive with tales of Greg’s many adventures. He never met a stranger, and he certainly left his mark on many hearts.
Greg was predeceased by his maternal grandmother, Mae Z. Hansen, his brother, Brian F. Clare, his late wife, Rhenae Clare, his mother, Mary Jane Clare, and his brothers-in-law, Robbi Ciminero and Dave Johnson.
Greg is survived by his wife, Angela. His children, Megan (Colin) Byerly, Ian (Caitlin) Clare and Elizabeth Milam. His grandchildren, Margot Byerly, Ava Clare, Zeke Milam and Mac Milam, his sister, Donna Clare, Aunt, Nancy Hansen, cousin, Joani Regner, his three sisters-in-law, Sara Asher, Paula Clare Ciminero and Denise Johnson, his nieces Erin (Jon) Acuff and Sophia Johnson, his nephews, Colin (Sara) Clare and Christian Taylor and his two great nieces Elliotte and Annabelle Acuff.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:00pm Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Heritage Church, 29768 Huntsville Brownsferry Road with Reverends Suzanne & Michael Katschke officiating. Greg was not a fan of all black, so per his request, feel free to wear lots of color and keep it casual if that’s your style because it was his!
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Greg’s memory to allow Angela to give back at the Clearview Cancer Institute. The volunteers made Greg’s treatment days easier and happier, and Angela would like to pay it forward for all that was done for Greg. The program is funded by the volunteers, so any donations would allow Angela to do more in Greg’s memory to help others in their time of need as she volunteers to make treatment days better for patients in active treatment. Donations may be made through Venmo using @Angela-Clare-1 or you may contact Angela through Messenger on the Chronicle page for other avenues.
The family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for the loving care Greg received at Clearview Cancer Institute, Athens Health & Rehab and Affinity Hospice. His special nurses Nickie, Liz and Tina made his last days more comfortable and allowed the family to spend time loving Greg. Legacy Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of the services.
