Funeral services for Gary Bernelle Dempsey, a retired educator, 73, of Leland will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 14, 2012 at Leland United Methodist Church. He died suddenly Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at his home in Leland. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m. at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Carrollton, MS under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Leland. He was born September 29, 1938 in Anguilla, MS to Woodrow Willson Dempsey and Earline Washington Dempsey. After graduating from Anguilla High School, Gary attended Mississippi State where he played on the Bulldog baseball team. Upon graduating from Mississippi State, he signed a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played in their minor league system until an injury ended his professional baseball career. Gary then returned to the Delta and began a long career as a teacher, coach, and school administrator, first at his hometown Anguilla, then with the Greenville Public Schools. During this time he also served in the Mississippi National Guard. With the Greenville schools he was head football coach at Greenville High School, principal of Greenville T.L. Weston High School, and central office administrator. After retiring from the public schools, Gary taught and coached at St. Joseph High School in Greenville. During his retirement years Gary enjoyed doing yard work, traveling through the West and through the Smokey and Blue Ridge Mountains, and following Mississippi State Bulldog sports. Gary was preceded in death by his parents and by his son, James Keith “Jake” Dempsey. He is survived by his wife, Jane Harper Dempsey of Leland; his son, Gary Carl Dempsey of Guntersville, AL; daughter, Lauren Brain (Nathan) Dunn of Spring Hill, TN; daughter, Stancy Brain (Jeremy) Cargile of Lascassas, TN; grandson, J.W. Dempsey of Florida; grandsons, Stratton Dunn and Parks Dunn of Spring Hill, TN; granddaughter, Lilly Cargile of Lascassas, TN; grandson, Hutchins Cargile of Lascassas, TN; sister, Joyce (George) McWilliams of West Point, MS; brother, Keith (Martha) Dempsey of Orofino, ID; by numerous nieces and nephews; and by his beloved pet dog, Rowdy. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, January 13, 2012 at Boone Funeral Home, Leland. Memorials may be made to a charity or organization of choice.
