Last week, we celebrated the life and resurrection of a friend, a mentor, a partner, and a hero.
Gary Grisham died at 67 several years after being diagnosed with cancer. He leaves a legacy as a husband of 46 years, a father, a grandfather, a veteran of the US Army, and an integral part of the history of our company.
Gary served Dow Smith Company from 1999 until he retired as a Partner in 2018. He played a crucial role in the development of our company’s culture and was a key contributor to our values of passion, caring, hustle, and detail.
“I can’t think of a person wiser than Gary,” Dow Smith said in his eulogy. “He had a toughness in him that I’ve yet to see duplicated. But yet in that toughness was his gentleness. … As I’m mourning the loss of Gary, I’m hearing Jesus tell me, ‘Gary is fine and he’s comfortable. He’s healed. And Gary is living a resurrected life.’”
When Gary first joined Dow Smith Company, he was hired as a carpenter. He was quickly promoted to Superintendent where he managed everything on the job site, including subcontractors, materials, safety, and daily project activities. His most memorable project was one of the earliest projects he ever supervised—the Woodfin Funeral Chapel project back in 2000.
It was a significant project—a 30,000-square-foot steel building that posed a lot of challenges. It was a complex project because it not only included a funeral home, but also a chapel, an embalming facility, and a crematorium. Woodfin owners Jerry Lowry and Bubba Woodfin were in a tight spot. Their original building burned down in a fire and their business was without a home. They had no place to take care of their clients who were in need of their services. The project was on a very tight schedule and Dow said he knew Gary could handle the project and its challenges.
Dow said it was fitting that Gary’s celebration of life was held at the Woodfin Funeral Chapel he helped design and build.
“I just remember Gary working with Bubba and figuring out what Bubba wanted and didn’t want, and how he was so good at that and communicating that to the crews. I think this place just shows what a craftsman and what a caring person Gary was.”
During his tenure at Dow Smith, Gary learned all aspects of the business and was ultimately named Operations Director in 2003, overseeing five to six construction projects at a time. In 2007, Gary earned his partnership status and became part owner of the company.
Dow Smith Company Partner & Design-Builder Joey Rhyne said his life—and our company—was changed by Gary’s guidance.
“He and I worked side by side every day for 15 years,” Joey said. “He was passionate about what he did, his life, and his family and children and grandchildren. But most of all, he was a great friend to me and I’ll always be grateful for that. … We had lots of conversations about life together and he always helped me see a different side of things.”
Joey said that on his way to visit Gary shortly before he passed, Joey opened his Bible and Psalm 112 spoke to him about Gary. In verses 5 through 8, it reads:
“It is well with a man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice, for his righteousness will never be moved. He will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news. His heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady and he will not be afraid.”
Dow said Gary was always steady, even when he was upset, and that steadiness was reassuring during times when Dow wasn’t sure if the business was going to succeed.
“Quite often in the time I spent with Gary, I felt like I was being held by Jesus,” Dow said. “In witnessing and experiencing his wisdom, his toughness, his gentleness, and his caring love, I encountered and experienced in him the living Christ.”
To read Gary’s obituary, please click here.
