Richard Lee Greer

AUBURN - Gunnery Sergeant Richard Lee Greer, USMC Ret., 78, the husband of Anne M. McNabb Greer, of 1916 Turnpike Road, Auburn, died Thursday, June 10, 2010, in Mercy Health & Rehabilitation Center. A native of Norman, Okla., Dick lived most of his life in the Auburn area. He was a combat veteran of the Korean War, as well as the Vietnam War. Gunnery Sergeant Greer received three Bronze Battle Star Devices for action in Korea, in addition to the one he earned for his service in Vietnam. He served at numerous posts during his 22-year active service in the Marine Corps. Dick also devoted an additional eight years of his life to the Marine Corps Reserves following his separation from active duty. He later worked at New Process Gear, Syracuse, retiring in 1993 after more than two decades of faithful service. He was a member of the VFW Post 1975, Skaneateles Falls American Legion, and was a member of the John F. Kennedy Div. 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians. In addition to his wife, Anne, Dick is survived by two sons, John Emmett and his wife Cheryl, of Cayuga, and Kevin Richard and his companion Patricia Robinson, of Auburn; two daughters, Margaret Lee Drancsak and her husband John, and Maureen Anne Carberry and her husband John, all of Auburn; seven grandchildren, Mackenzie and Marshall Zieglar-Greer, John and Molly Drancsak, and Devin, Garrett and Timothy Carberry; brother, Billy Greer, of Norman, Okla.; sister, JoAnn Casey and her husband J.R., of Norman, Okla. The son of the late John and Hazel Fox Greer, Dick was predeceased by three brothers, Tommy Dale, Danny Rae and Michael Greer; and one sister, Jonnie Lou Lynn. Friends are invited to join the family for a Mass of Christian burial to be offered at 10 a.m. Monday, in Holy Family Church, by the Rev. Dennis Shaw. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, with full military honors. Calling hours for Dick will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, at the Cheche Funeral Home Inc., 1778 Clark St. Road, Auburn. Contributions may be made in memory of Dick to the Mercy Health & Rehabilitation Center, 3 St. Anthony St., Auburn, NY 13021, for the loving care he received during his stay there. Richard's devotion to country was demonstrated through the five separate occasions in which he ventured from the shores of our country, as well as the arms of his family, to fight overseas. He was the personification of a career Marine and Patriot. Semper Fi, Gunnery Sergeant. To send a message to the family, sign our guest book at www.auburnpub.com and click on obituaries.