Obituary: Gary Dale Dones, 76, Bardstown

Gary Dale Dones, 76, of Bardstown, died Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, at his home. He was born July 7, 1948, in Nelson County to the late Cleveland “June Bug” Jr. and Elma Dean Vittitow Dones.

He was a retired employee of Jim Beam Distillery having worked there for 44 years. He was an avid Ford owner and was the proud owner of a 1962 red Thunderbird. He loved to restore pedal cars. He was a hard worker who could fix and restore anything. He loved to go camping at Green River and being with friends on a houseboat. He loved his family dearly.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Carolyn Ann “Sissy” Perkins.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Gayle Riley Dones; four daughters, Cynthia Hawkins of Elizabethtown, Vickie (Kevin) Bryan of New Haven and Wanda (Nathan) Tingle and Tammi C. (Chris) Hill, both of Bardstown; one son, Christopher M. Carney of Bardstown; three sisters, Diane (Norman) Gardner and Tammy Dones, both of Boston, and Angie (Mike) Williams of Cox’s Creek; eight brothers, Nickie (Shirley) Dones, Tony (Jenny) Dones, Robbie (Joan) Dones, Jackie (Nora) Dones, Terry Lee Dones, Gregory (Tonya) Dones and Wesley Dones, all of Boston and Jerome (Debbie) Dones of New Haven; 17 grandchildren, Erika Villar, Austin Hawkins, DaKota Hawkins, Derek Koch, Samantha Call, Garrett Koch, Rebecca Tingle, Tyler Tingle, Hope Tingle, Brooke Tanksley, Courtney Hamilton, Faith Whitney, Tre Whitney, Monika Grace Whitney, Aubree Kate Whitney, Colton Michael Carney, and Kennedy Lynn Carney; and 20 great-grandchildren.

In respecting his wishes, cremation was chosen with no public visitation or services.

The Houghlin-Greenwell funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

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