Gary Lee McHaley

Gary Lee McHaley, age 81, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024, at home from natural causes exacerbated by Hurricane Helene. Known for his deep love of family and friends, cooking and entertaining, movies, music, sports, wicked sense of humor, and resemblance to the Monopoly Man by which he was fondly called by friends and family, Gary was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and neighbor who loved living amongst the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville and will be deeply missed.

Born March 2, 1943, in Richmond, Indiana, he was the son of the late Charles Clovis McHaley, Sr. and Lula Leona Hill. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents in Richmond, Indiana, attending Catholic grade school and Vernon High School, where he was the drum major for the marching band and ran cross country.

After graduating from Vernon High School in 1961, he worked as a manager in the movie theatre industry and later as a manager for several restaurants, including Shoney’s Big Boy in Indianapolis. He moved to Asheville, NC in the early 1970s where he continued to work in the restaurant industry and opened his own restaurant, The Knife and Fork, in downtown Asheville near the Grove Arcade Building. In the 1980s, he began working in sales and opened Conner Mobile Homes in Swannanoa. After closing the mobile home business, he worked for Sentry Chemical Company for nearly 20 years, followed by Paradise Home Improvement until his retirement at age 78 in 2021.

Gary was married twice as a young man; however, it was in 1978 that he met his third wife and the love of his life, Jennifer Arleen Colledge, when she served him a piece of cherry pie and a Coca-Cola as his waitress at the Parkway Restaurant. The two were married shortly thereafter and enjoyed 25 years of marriage together. Gary was a member of the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal Church in Woodfin and was involved in a number of civic organizations over the years, including the Shriners, Jaycees, and Boy Scouts of America as a Den Master.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents; his former wife of 25 years and love of his life, Jennifer Colledge McHaley; his sister, Donna Jean Barrett; and his half-brothers Loren J. Williams and Charles C. McHaley, Jr.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Dearborn McHaley and husband, Patrick Sherren, and April McHaley Nixon; sons, Devin Arthur Clovis McHaley and wife Heather Pruitt McHaley, Kendall Lee McHaley, Gary Glenn McHaley and wife Charlanne McHaley, and Troy Lee McHaley and wife Rebecca McHaley; grandchildren, Stephen Carpenter and wife McKayla Dukes, Emma Stewart, Hayden McHaley, Haley Nixon, Taylor Nixon, Bennet Nixon, Katelyn McHaley, Chelsey Anne Matern and husband Dale, Chad McHaley and wife Kelsey; Tina McHaley Wisner and husband Trent; Mindy Weatherbee and husband Eric; Joseph McHaley and wife Terrah; Ashley Ward and husband Stan; great-grandchildren, Eloise Mave McHaley, Rylee Matern, Daniel Matern, Elaina McHaley, Amelia McHaley, Alice McHaley, Addyson Wisner, Ian Wisner, Elijah Weatherbee, Ethan Weatherbee, Eric Weatherbee, Ezekiel Weatherbee, Destany Weatherbee, Jada Weatherbee, Gabe McHaley, Sutton McHaley, Seth Ward, Easton Ward, and Finley Ward; several half-brothers and a half-sister; and his former mother-in-law, Ellita Cox Colledge, with whom he talked to every day about sports, life, and their favorite TV shows. Gary’s eldest daughter, Carrie June McHaley, survived him by one month.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, March 2, 2025 (on what would have been Gary’s 82nd birthday) at 1:00 p.m. at the Luxe Glass House, located at 9657 Boylston Hwy, Mills River, NC 28759. The family will receive friends immediately following the service to share memories and refreshments. The family kindly requests that attendees wear joyful spring colors in lieu of black.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Gary’s name to BeLoved Asheville’s Hurricane Relief Response or Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.