Gary Ray Cline

Gary Ray Cline, 58, of Pawnee City, Nebraska, passed away on November 24, 2020 at home with family.  He was born on December 26, 1961 in Falls City, Nebraska to Homer Jr. and Glee Price (Shineflew) Cline. He graduated from Pawnee Public High School in 1980 and was a member of the Pawnee City Christian Church.

Gary spent his youth learning to fish and hunt (mushrooms mostly) with his dad.  Precious were the Sunday dinners at Grandpa and Grandma Cline’s with aunts, uncles and cousins; grandmas wonderful food and aunt Dora’s chocolate cake! He also loved to hear aunt Gale belting out “Pistol Packin’ Mama” and his mom and dad singing duets at church, planting the seed for his great love of God and music. He enjoyed spending summers at aunt Gaye and uncle Jim’s with great fishing and camping adventures.

After graduation, he worked for uncle Jim in the oil fields, during that time he was thrilled to drive uncle Jim’s “toy” in the latest fad-mud runs. Driving would become a passion for Gary, whether in his “71” Challenger, his Harley, or driving Callista Cooper across country to California.  He also enjoyed being behind the wheel of his dump truck while working road construction.

Gary worked at his good buddy Ronnie Roland’s Standard station and hung up his own shingle, “Homer’s Hook and Line” at the bait shop.  He headed down to Arizona and was involved in landscaping there.  He also grew to appreciate the hillbilly music, played by the prospectors, in the mountains on Saturday nights.  He worked in many different areas through the years: Pawnee Auto Body, farming for his sister and her husband, hauling trees from Idaho to Michigan, and driving for GIG Trucking.  He had great admiration for the people he worked with and for over the years.  Some of his fondest  memories were just sitting around a campfire, enjoying what he liked to call “pick and grin” sessions with the Howard Clan: uncle Kenny, aunt Donna, Harold, Diane and his lifelong friend, “adopted” brother Steve Howard and lil brother Nick Cline.

Gary was very grateful to his many friends who were there as his health declined, making many trips to the hospital.  They were there to do whatever they could so to help care for and comfort him.  He also was very thankful for his family; his mother, sisters and lil brother.  So many times, he was unable to say much, but almost always was able to get out one word; “FAMILY” and hold up his finger, “#1”.  He knew nothing was more important than “FAMILY”.  He was a very proud uncle of all his nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. He treasured the notes and pictures the little ones made for him to “get better”.

He was preceded in death by his father, Homer Cline, Jr., grandparents, Homer Sr. and Alta Cline, step grandmother, Mabel Cline and grandparents, Jarret and Opal Shineflew. 

He is survived by his mother, Glee Price of Pawnee City, brother Nick Cline of Pawnee City, sisters, Alta (Jim) Perez of Pawnee City and Tammy (Wade) Oehm of Lawrence, KS, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 10, 2021 at the First Christian/United Presbyterian Church in Pawnee City, Nebraska with Chaplain Sharon Schuster officiating.  

Inurnment will be in the Verdon Cemetery, Verdon, Nebraska. 

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

Services are entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska.

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