Gary Biggs

Gary Biggs of Chesapeake City, 71, passed away on Thursday September 10, 2020. Gary was born in Elkton, MD , begrudgingly, but transferred as quickly as possible to Chesapeake City where he called home for his entire life no matter where his head hit the pillow. Gary was the youngest son of the late Leon N. Biggs and Pearl Hagedorn. Gary was proud of his hometown and all of his friends and family. Gary spent his childhood, like many of those who grew up in the canal town, plying his sportsmanship skills along the banks of the historic waterway fishing and crabbing and most likely swimming without permission. He was, by all accounts, a popular schoolmate and a great contributor to that great 1966 Bohemia Manor Eagles Championship basketball team. When Gary graduated Bohemia Manor in 1967, he felt compelled to enlist in the US Army, entering boot camp in December at Ft. Bragg, NC. Gary served in Saigon, Republic of South Vietnam from February 1969 – January 1970, a service for which he was very proud. After his service, Gary strove towards the goal of becoming a tug boat captain eventually achieving this goal at the young age of 25. He worked in the Marine Industry as a Tug Boat Captain for forty years before retiring. Gary spent his adult years in a vocation that he loved and adored plying the waterways around his home and on the Eastern Atlantic sea board and the Gulf of Mexico as a tug boat captain sharing many of his adventures with friends and family. It was very clear to all that he adored his work and those with whom he worked including his own uncle, Captain DeWayne T. Biggs. Gary was always a man who selflessly returned the love and caring that each of us gave to him. He met his wife, Carol, on a blind date in the late 1980's and that grew to be the love of his life. Through her, Gary developed a new love of carpentry and reimagined, remade or rebuilt several homes in the Chesapeake City area. Gary is survived by his wife, Carol Luff Biggs of Chesapeake City, brother Ronnie Biggs of Florida and brother-in-law John McLennan of Chesapeake City. He was also a proud Uncle to many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and two great-great nieces and nephews, all of whom he adored. Gary survived both of his parents, his dear uncle DeWayne T. Biggs, his sister Nancy and his brother Bobby all of Chesapeake City. Gary shared a great amount of love for his dog, Maximus. They each enjoyed every minute they had with each other. Gary fought prostate cancer for the past several years, receiving the news that the disease had become incurable on September 10, 2019. Gary was determined to take the time remaining to him on his own terms and was proud that he "toughed" it out much longer than was estimated. His journey was a peaceful one and all in God's Grace which he received through the loving example and witness of his wife, Carol, and the witness of his wife and his dear friend Dennis Fish and his wife Sharon. A graveside service for Gary's life will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at Bethel Cemetery, 312 Bethel Cemetery Rd, Chesapeake City, MD. Friends and family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to "Volunteer Fire Company #1 of Chesapeake City, Inc." and sent in care of R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.O. Box 27, Chesapeake City, MD 21915.