Jerry Richard Galyean
Jerry Richard Galyean died July 16th in Peyton Hospice House, Lewisburg, WV, at the age of 87, from cancer and a long illness. He was born in Huntington, WV; raised in Charleston; traveled the world; and made homes in Asheville, NC, Knoxville, TN, and Lewisburg, WV.
Jerry grew up as the oldest son of six siblings, five brothers and one sister. His parents were Tinsley Azariah (TAG) Galyean and Jane Elliott Galyean.
Jerry’s life had many chapters. He was a young model train and photography enthusiast, a teenage magician, neighborhood newspaper publisher and radio broadcaster, and junior high school president. He graduated from Phillips Academy – Andover, MA, and earned a degree from Stanford University, focusing on cinematography. His graduate school thesis film won the San Francisco Film Festival.
Jerry graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in the early 1960s. Shortly thereafter, the United Nations contracted him as a documentary cinematographer to make films in Africa and the Middle East. Following those years, he was employed by Hugh Downs, Today Show anchor, as his expedition photographer and cinematographer on Mr. Down’s well-publicized sailing voyage from Florida to Tahiti. Jerry’s reports appeared frequently on the Today Show and 20/20.
In 1970, Jerry filmed and produced the documentary “Hard Chargers” for Time Life Magazines. The film, which chronicled the early history of stock car racing, was aired nationally in prime time on Time Life’s Sunday evening series.
In the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, Jerry was a successful car dealer in Asheville, NC, and Knoxville, TN. He was also a dedicated supporter of University of Tennessee sports, particularly the championship woman’s basketball team. He traveled with the team to most of their away games.
He moved to Greenbrier County in 2003 and was active in retirement. He guided bunker tours at The Greenbrier Hotel and served in the Simulated Patient Program for West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM).
Jerry found irony and humor in his varied experiences and often told true life stories that entertained and educated. He particularly enjoyed being included as the extra player in the “Girls Bridge Group”, and they loved him too.
Jerry and Galya Galyean, married in 2004, lived in Sinks Grove, Monroe County, and then Lewisburg. Their wedding was at Kate’s Mt., Greenbrier and the center piece of the Carnegie Hall benefit “My Big Fat Fantasy Wedding” Gala. They have enjoyed and entertained a large group of friends and have had “a wonderful life together” at home, in Vero Beach, FL, and cruising with friends, Ingrid and Ora Arnolds.
Jerry became the kind of person who made every room warmer, every moment lighter. His laughter was contagious; his kindness effortless; and his ability to find humor, even in the toughest times, was a gift to us all.
Rest easy, Jerry. You are loved beyond measure and missed beyond description.
Jerry Richard Galyean is survived by the “love of his life”, Galya Galyean; daughters, Deigh Galyean, Marietta Harvey; and granddaughter, Caroline Chaney; his brothers, Tinsley Azariah (TAG) Galyean, Jr., (Annabelle), Brent Beasley Galyean (deceased), Kyle Elliott Galyean, Gary Anderson Galyean (Annie); and sister, Jane Elizabeth Vail (Mark). Also important to Jerry are his nephews, Tinsley Galyean 3rd (Nicole – daughters, Tinsley Jane and Piper), Taylor Galyean (Marilyn – daughter, Lucy), Wilson Galyean (Lisa – daughter, Eleanor and son, Ben); and his nieces, Elizabeth Reardon (John – sons, Mark and Charlie), Barbara Vail, Angela Wilcox (Benjamin – son, Horatio and daughter, Winifred), Caroline Metsch, and Mary Brent Galyean.
Jerry’s body will be donated to the WVSOM, and the celebration of life will be at the end of the year.
Memorial donations can be sent to: The Jerry Galyean Fund – GVAC (Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center) 896 Maplewood Ave., Lewisburg, WV 24901 – Phone 681-484-7037, Tax Exempt Federal ID #83-0858673.
Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
