A Letter to My Father

The one man I always knew and who always knew me. The man that felt my pain before I did. The man that protected me from evil and showed me how to protect myself from that same evil. The man that showed me how to truly appreciate and respect. The man that showed me earning your way through life is better than it being handed to you. The man that showed me how to provide and teach others how to do the same.

Your heart was always bigger than your body. I can count on one hand the times I have seen you mad with me. You were always patient with raising me. You never rushed one life lesson with me. The thought of what you would say when I ran into an issue washed my stress away.

Hundreds of millions of fathers on this earth and I wouldn’t trade YOU for any of them nor all of them combined!

I LOVE YOU!!! I proudly accept the blessing to continue your name and legacy! YOU now live through me!!

~Your Son~

The journey of my life dwells in each of you….

The Memories WE Have All Shared

Gary Russell Preston was born January 2, 1961, at St. Luke’s’ Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri to Eugene and Mary Bell (Newton) Preston. Gary was the third son of four children for Eugene and Mary.

Gary grew up and was part of the West Side of St. Louis, Missouri his entire life. Everyone who knew him, knew of him, or had the opportunity to spend time in his space, admired, loved, and respected him. Gary’s personality was always quiet, patient, humble, and often quite comical. How could you not adore him?

The proudest and most memorable moment in life for Gary was the welcoming of his first born and only child, Garrett Russell Preston. Garrett gave Gary a different purpose in life and he was most proud of his son.

A gentle guy with the ability to calm the wildest dog and make him a friend as the most recent man-animal love affair with Snow.

Gary had a way of fixing anything. He was an all-around “Mr. Fix-It” and didn’t often use the tools needed but made everything work. Although Gary never had a lot of formal education, he was a smart, knowledgeable guy with a lot of experiences and abilities.

Gary died quietly and peacefully on the morning of July 8, 2020, in his childhood home on Highland Avenue after a short battle with Esophageal Cancer. He leaves to carry on his legacy of life, his mother Mary Bell Newton-Preston; his brothers David Preston and Eugene Preston both of St. Louis, Missouri; his sister Pamela Preston-Brown of St. Charles, Illinois; His uncles Terry (Chip) Jones and Mike Jones both of St. Louis, MO; His one and only beloved son Garrett Russell Preston (St. Louis, MO): his life-long kinship and mother of his son Margaret Givens; his nephews Richard Brown (Alexandra) Menomonee Falls, WI), Eugene Preston (Zee) Pensacola, FL), David Brown (Aurora, IL); his nieces Joy Preston (St. Louis, MO), Takiya Thompson (St. Louis, MO), Corinne Reed; four great- nephews, three great nieces, best friends Lamont (Benny) Keys, Mike Griffin, “Duke”, “Buster” and Antoine, Sean Lane, Jasmine Lane and Cheyenne Lane (special to his heart), along with a host of cousins, family and friends.

Your life will be a journey for our lifetime. Rest well! We will miss you!!!

The Family of Gary Russell Preston extends a loving “Thank You” To the following:

St. Louis Cremation Services, Ballwin, Missouri Washington University Cancer Medical Services Team Megan Booth, BJC Caseworker Waltrice Johnson, In-Home Care Provider and Neighbor

Your support, kindness and service are gratefully appreciated and will always be remembered

REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF