Mr. Gary William Teate

Our beloved, Gary William Teate, age 72 of Starke, Florida passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, peacefully at his home with his family, and with Jesus in his heart. He was born February 11, 1952, in Jacksonville, Florida, to the late Jacob and Myrtice (Barrett) Teate.Gary was an eighth-generation Floridian. He grew up on the Ortega River where he found a love for fishing and just being on the water. He was an athletic, creative, and talented young man. One of his many talents was refurbishing antique and special interest cars, a passion he shared with his best friend, Eddie Weldon. Eventually, the two would turn their skillset into a business on the west side of Jax called "Total Performance". Many of the cars they restored, engine to body, would go on to be displayed in car shows. Not being relegated to just one set of skills, the two friends found themselves making routed wood signs for local businesses and doing fiberglass repair and motor work on boats at Julington Creek Marina. Gary was a very skilled builder/craftsman and he always had a project he was working on.
Gary would later take a job with the COJ Public Works Department which would eventually become JEA's Project Engineering Dept., working as a plan reviewer and assisting engineers and developers with countless development projects over many years, where he would ultimately retire.
Gary was also a skilled writer and poet, often moving his loved ones to tears with his craft. He was a dedicated father who was always active in his children's sports (amongst other hobbies), either as a coach or as a passionate parent awaiting his likely ejection by an umpire. He had an affinity for history and "old Florida". He loved a good western, his sweet tea, and some good southern cooking. His family will especially remember with great fondness all of the times spent together at Lake Kerr, Fernandina Beach and Crescent beach. They will remember how he was always sure to make the holidays fun and special, his great sense of humor (of course), how his unique laugh could fill all of the space within a room. And most of all, his deep, deep love for them.
He is survived by his wife Donna (Torrent) Teate, his children Lorrie Morgenstern (Buster), Casey Teate (Hope) and Shelley Moody (Phil), as well as his sister Patti Priest (Don); stepchildren Michelle Walker (Robert) and Christian Kornegay (Cassandra), he left behind 17 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and his beloved dogs Pickles and Peanut.
Gary's gravesite service will be Thursday, May 23rd at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park on Blanding Blvd. The viewing and book signing starts at 10:30am with the service following at 11:00am with Pastor Terry Blakeslee.