Gary Veeder passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at the age of 84 on April 15th. A lifelong resident of Dutchess County, he was born in Poughkeepsie on July 7, 1941, to Harold and Mae Veeder. He attended Franklin D. Roosevelt High School and graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy in 1963. He married his high school sweetheart, Pamela Boice Veeder, in 1963 and together they worked at and ran Veeder Pharmacy in LaGrange, from 1963 to its closing in 1996. He served as the Town Supervisor of Pleasant Valley from 1976 to 1980 and has served countless other roles in town government.

Gary Veeder lived his life with a spirit that is impossible to capture in writing, a man who loved humor and was deeply devoted to his family and his community. He served in many volunteer roles for organizations, including the Holland Society, the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club, and the Dutchess County Sheep and Wool Growers. Gary was a proud member of the Dutchess County Agricultural Society and never missed the fair. He showed sheep with his family and enjoyed educating the visitors at both the Fair and the Sheep and Wool Festival about wool. Gary was an avid golfer, coached crew, and followed Marist University basketball. In his later years, he discovered the forgotten Badgley Cemetery and spent years restoring the Revolutionary Era cemetery stones and grounds. He was instrumental in the placement of a historical marker honoring patriot graves at that site.

After retirement, Gary and Pamela traveled the country visiting every state, volunteered for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and even drove to the Arctic Circle. Gary loved music and played the banjo whenever he had the chance. He supported musicians through endeavors such as the New York State Fiddle Contest, which he founded and ran for many years at the Dutchess County Fair. Gary was an avid woodworker up to the end, and could often be found in his workshop, tinkering away. When not in his workshop, there is a good chance he was on his tractor or lawn mower, mowing anyone's grass he could convince to let him do so.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pamela Veeder, his children, Meegan Veeder-Shave (Chris) and Dal Veeder (Wendy), his four grandchildren, Cosette, Keegan, Macey, and Dalton, four nieces and nephews, one cat named Cat, and countless friends. He is profoundly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life will be held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in the Welcome Center on Monday, May 11th, from 3:30 to 5:30. In place of flowers, the family asks that you consider volunteering with a local organization.