Gary Allen Carmichael was born on October 29th, 1945, in Kingsport, Tennessee. He died on June 4th, 2023, in Kingsport, Tennessee. In between, he lived in Hawaii, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, and California. He enlisted in the Marines in 1968 and spent a tour in Vietnam. He married his high school sweetheart in 1969 and graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1974. He could have been a photographer, a draftsman, or a veterinarian. Instead, he became a woodworker, a salesman, and later, a stay-at-home dad to his three children.
Gary loved his Momma, he loved to travel, and he loved to make people laugh. He never met a stranger and could keep an airline rep on the phone for an hour searching for better prices. He was kind, witty, and charming. He loved to make and build things, from jewelry to an elaborate deck to a full kitchen renovation. He hated to throw things away. He started hundreds of projects that will never be finished. He drove his family crazy. He will be dearly missed. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Lemuel and Allene Carmichael. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Ruth Converse Carmichael; his son, Kevin; his daughters, Amy and Emily; two sisters, Geraldine Fletcher and Jeanette Brenner; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, and extended family. Internment will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 9th, at the VA Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. the same day at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 584 Lebanon Road in Kingsport, with Rev. Jon Hermes officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund or to you preferred charity supporting veterans.