Wayne Gregory

Donald "Wayne" Gregory, 89, of Queen Highway, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2016 at Landsun Homes. Visitation will be 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, June 23, 2016, 10:00 AM, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1722 N. Mesa Street, with Clarence "Tito" Bluth conducting. Interment will follow at the Gregory Ranch, Rocky Arroyo Cemetery. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Wayne was born to Audie Lee and Pearl Lackey Gregory on July 4, 1926, on the Osage Indian Reservation at Hominy, Oklahoma. He was an enrolled Creek Indian and was very proud of his native heritage. At the age of one Wayne's family moved to Carlsbad where he was raised along with his three brothers and four sisters. When WWII broke out Wayne quit school at fifteen to join the army, but was denied because of his age. He worked at the Carlsbad Air Base for a year and a half during which time he applied to the Marines who also rejected him because of his age. He went to work as a machinist at IMC Potash and attended school at night to earn his high school diploma. He worked at IMC until 1967 when he left his job as General Forman of surface crafts to go to work for Amax Potash. Wayne married Faye Jean Packer on October 19, 1946. Together they made a home and raised four children. He participated in many community activities including Boy Scouts of America, where he served as a scoutmaster and earned the prestigious "Order of the Arrow". In 1955 the Jaycees chose him as their "Outstanding Young Man of the Year" and he also served as President of the Riverside Country Club for three years. Wayne had a great love of music from an early age. He had a beautiful voice and was often asked to sing at various functions in the community. He had a great recall for words and could sing literally hundreds of songs on demand, but he especially loved western music and the old hymns he learned as a child. Wayne was a licensed pilot and had a passion for flying. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and traveling with Faye Jean. Together they toured extensively through Central and South America, Spain, England, Alaska and Hawaii. In 1984 Wayne purchased a ranch on Rocky Arroyo with his sons. He developed a love for ranching and for exploring old homesteads and Indian encampments in the Guadalupe Mountains. In 1969 Wayne left Amax Potash to start a family business, Gregory Enterprises, Inc., with his two sons, Larry and Scott. That venture, which started as a machine shop and two laundries, is still operating forty-seven years later as Gregory Rockhouse Ranch other related companies. Survivors are his sons: Larry L. Gregory and wife, Marjorie of Carlsbad, NM, N. Scott Gregory and wife, Deborah of Carlsbad, NM; daughters: Marianne Burnett and husband, Jody of Carlsbad, NM, Terri Andersen and husband, David of Carlsbad, NM; 17 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Donny Gregory, Ryan Williamson, Greg Williamson, Larry Wayne Gregory, Jared Andersen, Ryley Andersen, Brock Andersen and Austin Gregory. Honorary pallbearers are Jordan Andersen, Dakota Andersen, Eric Powell and David Powell. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith, Hope and Love Foundation, 933 N. Canal Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220 Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com