Gary Alvin Rafferty, son of the late Edwin C and Gertrude Overton Rafferty, was born on March 28,1952 in Campbellsville, KY. He died at 6:26 am, Saturday, May 11,2024 in Mechanicsville, VA.
He was baptized and lived his faith in Jesus Christ daily. He was a member of Cool Spring Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, VA at the time of his death. When he lived in Campbellsville, he was a faithful member of Palestine Baptist Church. He moved to Virginia in 1995 with his job as an Auditor with Southern States Cooperative where he worked for 39 years.
Gary was challenged with heart problems from 1995 until he had a very successful heart transplant in 2018. He cherished the gift of life he was given knowing the sacrifice made by another person and their family. He served on the board of Lifenet Health Foundation (the world’s most trusted provider of transplant solutions) as a patient representative. He volunteered at many events encouraging people to register as organ donors. He was an inspiration to the employees and patrons of the local YMCA with his dedication and great attitude. Gary was lovingly referred to as the “Mayor of Laurel Meadows” because he never met a stranger and helped others connect as neighbors. He generously sent gifts of Goldfish and Oreo Cookies to the children for no other reason than to be kind to them and their parents. He was greatly loved by so very many people: family, neighbors, doctors, nurses, therapists, exercise buddies and many more.
Gary leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 39 years, Paula and his two sons, Jonathan (Carrie) and Nicholas. He will be missed by his three grandchildren, Ava, Lucas and Cavan. He is also survived by a loving Sister, Faye (Ken) Osborne and several very dear nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister Brenda Rafferty Thompson.
Donations can be made in his honor to the St. Jude Hospital, American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.
Visitation: 12 pm, Saturday, June 8,2024 at Palestine Baptist Church, 80 Church Lane, Campbellsville, Ky 42718. The funeral service will begin at 1:30pm. Burial will be private at the Palestine Baptist Church cemetery.