Gary Eugene Hendershott

Hendershott, Gary E.
Hendershott, Gary E. 10/25/1938 - 9/4/2025 A loving husband, dad and grandpa, Gary Hendershott passed away at Faith Haven Senior Centre under hospice care at the age of 86 after a long fight with Parkinson's. Gary was born on October 25, 1938 in Jackson, MI to Cecil E. and Grace (Dawson) Hendershott, the youngest of four children. Gary was a three sport athlete in high school playing baseball, football and basketball for Parma High. After graduating from Parma High School in 1956, he worked in Surveying and Mapping at Consumers Energy until his retirement in 1999 after 42 ½ years. Gary married Margaret, his high school sweetheart, on June 10, 1961 and they spent 64 years together. They raised their three children in Parma.
Gary loved spending his time with his children and grandchildren and was genuinely interested in each of their lives, attending their music, sporting, other life events, where he would happily engage in conversations with the people around him, whether he knew them or not. He appreciated his connection with his church family at North Parma UMC. He enjoyed tinkering around in his pole barn. Other interests included the outdoors, camping with friends and family, fishing in northern Ontario with his long-time Canada group, euchre club, and traveling the country with Marg to visit our national parks and monuments. He was a lifelong sports fan and enjoyed watching Big Ten sports, especially "Meechigan" Football. He was also an avid Detroit Tigers fan, even attending a 1984 World Series game.
Gary also gave back to his community as a coach, mentor, friend, and a 40-year registered MHSAA official in football and basketball. Late in his career, he officiated a state high school football championship game. In the 70s and 80s, he could be found umpiring softball games, callin' 'em as he saw 'em. Later, he enjoyed playing softball in the Jackson City Senior League as well as playing a round of golf with the guys on Thursday mornings after having met them for breakfast. His generous spirit extends beyond his death: Gary donated his brain to the U of M Brain Bank for Parkinson's research.
Some of Gary's favorite things, aside from sports, were watching John Wayne movies over and over, listening to Herb Alpert, Glen Cambell, and Anne Murray, square dancing, campfires, the Mackinac Bridge Walk, rhubarb pie, bowls of popcorn, and ice cream. He never came across a dessert that he didn't like. Gary had a sense of humor, always having a good story or joke to tell. He was one of the good guys and will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Cecil Hendershott and Don Hendershott, and sister, Connie Gray. He is survived by his wife Margaret (Allen) Hendershott; his children David (Joanie) Hendershott, Lisa (Kirk) Hendershott-Kraetzer, and Denise (Steve) Berry; grandchildren Jack Hendershott, Lindsay (fiance Alex DeGroat) Hendershott, Nathaniel Berry, and Meredith (fiance Wyatt Dodge) Berry; he is also survived by sister-in-law Jean Hendershott and former sister-in-law Mary Lou Scott as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at the Hampton Funeral Home, located at 4204 Ann Arbor Rd. in Jackson on Friday, October 3, 2025, beginning at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make memorial donations can make them at The Michael J. Fox For Parkinson's Research.
The family extends a special thank you to the staff of Faith Haven Senior Centre and Optimal Care Hospice for their empathy and compassionate care.
Please visit www.hamptonfuneralhomes.com to sign the guest book and/or send a condolence to the family.