Gary Niver

Clarkston High School

Class of 1965

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Gary Niver - Class of 1965 - Clarkston High School

First Name	Gary
Last Name	Niver
Graduation Year	Class of 1965
Gender	Male
Hometown	Clarkston, Michigan
Relationship Status	Engaged
About Me	Life and times of Gary Niver Gary Niver, born 7:30 am June 28th 1947 in Flint, Michigan at St Joseph Hospital to Donald Eldon Niver a barber and Irene Ethel Niver a home maker. Gary had a normal childhood with all the love he expected from his family and friends. The family were life members of the Church of Christ, Gary would later, after the Vietnam War would change his beliefs to Deism. Gary believed in a supreme being that created life as we know it, but once the supreme being completed the job, his/her job was done and aloud humans to control their own destiny. Gary believed a loving god would not let the atrocities in the world exist. In 1956 when Gary was nine a little dark haired baby named Pamela Sue came into his life and that life had changed forever. That little girl was his sister Pamela, "thank god" he thought I have someone to pick on and tease and he did it well, but the love he had for Pam never changed throughout the years. She was rock solid and always there for him through the thick and the thin. Gary grew into a teenager and started to become a young man and I am sure Pam thought "thank god" I’m getting a break from all the picking and teasing that went on during the early years. Gary met Paul Walker in the late 50’s, a school mate and throughout the school years the two were inseparable. Paul’s family owned a small orchard In Clarkston, Mi so the two boys had plenty to do , Mr Walker seen to that. The Walkers were from England so they had interesting stories to tell. The boys picked apples and fruit for 5 cents a bushel and had lots of fun and experiences doing it and the memories could never be taken away. As Gary and Paul grew their lives changed and they both moved on to new adventures and after close to fifty years they reconnected and were able to meet again and a grand meeting it was. Gary had many friends during his high school years, and once Gary broke out of his shell there was no stopping him as far as the cars and friends were concerned, so needless to say his late teens were very interesting. Gary’s first car was a black 1957 Chevrolet convertible. That convertible could be seen cruising the streets from Clarkston to Ortinville to Woodward to Flint everyday and night of the week when he was not working. Gary’s first real job was at Romans Sunoco in Clarkston (M15 and I75) in 1963 as an attendant and minor repair technician, a year or so later Gary moved across the street o Tom’s Texaco. Gary graduated from Clarkston High School in 1965 and and like most 18 year olds he wasn’t sure what his future was going to bring. Gary hired in at GM Truck and Coach in 1965 and worked there for a short time and realized production work was not for him. Gary and two school friends Dave Ingersoll and Kent Powell enrolled in barber college, Flint Institute of Barbering and became barbers. Gary worked part time at Kroger's and Rouse Brothers Standard Station while attending barber college. Gary cut hair with his dad Don at Don’s Barbershop for about one year. While cutting hair Gary would meet Gayle Beaudoin and later in 1967 they would marry and have two beautiful children Brian(1970) and Angela(1975). In 1967 Gary also met a man named Al Brown who would later become his best friend for life. In 1967 Uncle Sam said they needed Gary more than barbering. On his mothers birthday September 5th, 1967 Gary left for the Army. His basic training was at FT Leonard Wood, MO. and advanced Infantry training was at Ft Polk, LA. When he completed his training at Ft Polk he received orders for Ft Knox KY. for Armor training. After completing Armor training Gary received orders that sent him to southeast Asia (Vietnam). I do remember the day I got on the plane to leave for my final duty station before heading to Vietnam. My mom was being brave and strong and my father like the Marine he was knowing all the time it may be the last time they seen me was standing tall as we waited for the final boarding anoucement, the anoucement came and we said good by and I headed down the boarding runway, I had walked a short distance and then I heard the screams of my mother as she came running after me, my dad trying to restain her I stopped lone enough for her to drop to her knees and grab me by the leg screaming "I have only had you twenty years, they can't have you now." As my father pulled her away I seen the tears gushing down her face and her heart sobbing, my father motioning me to carry on. It was all I could do to board that plane and leave my mom behind. My father understood the duty of a young soldier, after all he was a Marine in WWII. For years as I grew from my experences in South East Asia I remembered and pictured that day at the airport and could feel the pain my mother showed and my father so bravely hid as I walked away into the unknown. Gary arrived in Vietnam in the early months of 1968 during the Tet offensive and found again his life would be changed forever only, not in the joyful way as it was when Pam came into his life. The horrifying experiences and memories would be burnt into his mind forever. Gary, received numerous service medals during his time in the US Army the Purple Heart and Bronze Star were among the ones he’s was most proud of. Returning home in a time of civil unrest concerning the war didn’t help matters as far as his home coming and PTSD, Gary felt abandon by the very country and people he was sent to help protect their way of life. Like Gary said many times “you don’t want wars to be fought on US soil” all gave some and some gave all on foreign soil. Gary later stopped barbering and went to work at B&B Service with Gayle’s father, Stash Beaudoin. Gary would later say Stash is the man that laid the foundation for a very successful career in the automotive service retail business. Gary met Sam and Merky Snyder during those years and would have another life long best friend. When Gary and Gayle divorced in 1987 Gary left B&B Service to work for Blain Buick in Flint, Mi. at that same year Gary met Kerry Anderson and some years later would marry, The love for kerry's children Kirsten and Michael would never waver and came to love them like his own along with Kirsten, Michael, Tristin, Jeremy,Ashleigh and Morgan divorcing in 2001. Gary would always say that Blain Buick was a good place to work. In 1990 Blain was bought out by Don and Patsy Lou Williamson and would later become Patsy Lou Buick GMC. Due to health reason Gary left Patsy Lou Buick GMC in 2002 and went to a smaller dealer in Millington, Mi, Joseph Chevrolet. Gary would later retire in 2009 from Joseph Chevrolet, Suski Chevrolet Alter a long career in the automotive business Gary could finally enjoy his retirement years. Gary was single many years and would later in life (2008) meet Deanna Vanlerberghe, they fell in love and would marry in ????, Deanna was Gary’s true love her gentle loving and thoughtful ways were what Gary loved most about Deanna, of course her beauty was beyond what he could imagine in a partner. The couple would later relocate to Port Huron, Mi. and Gary would love Deanna’s children and grand children like his own Gary loved doing yard gardening and maintenance, while Deanna was working he could be seen most days around the property improving on the beautiful yard he already had. The couple loved working together in the yard when they could. Gary loved his pets, raising many dogs and cats, one skunk, and even a short stent in the horse business. Gary would later say having horses was like dumping money into a pit never to be seen again. Gary lived a full life with the love of: One sister, two children, five step children, four grand children, eight step grand children and three great grand children, 3 nephews and 1 niece, many step nieces and nephews. Happy active childhood and teen life Lettering high school football and baseball Race car builder and driver 1965 through the mid seventies Sargent US Army, Fort Lenard Wood, MO, Fort Polk, LA, Fort Knox, KY, Vietnam 1967-1969 Barber 1966-1975 BA, Detroit College of Business 1972-1976 B&B Service Technician, manager 1975-1988 Automotive technician B&B Service 1975-1988 Member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Mounted Possi Automotive manager, B&B Service, Blain Buick GMC, Patsy Lou Buick GMC, Joseph Chevrolet, Suski Chevrolet all in the Flint, MI area 1975-2009 reitred Car collector and restorer Private pilot out of Bishop Airport Flint, MI Harley rider,...(read more)