Garath "Gary" L. Justus,

Garath “Gary” L. Justus, 69, passed away peacefully in his home on February 28, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. His beloved dog, Esther Su, was by his side along with his wife of 47 years, Caryl. Born in 1955 in Mobile, Alabama and raised in Miami, Florida, Gary lived a life that can only be described as eccentric, full of adventure, and marked by an unyielding spirit that will be greatly missed by those who knew him best. Gary was the middle of seven children in a boisterous Southern family. From a young age, he had a knack for getting in trouble. When he was five, he snuck out of his home and into a construction site, where he was run over by a cement truck. Even the subsequent body-cast and hospital stay couldn’t contain Gary. Legend has it that he constructed a rope made out of bedsheets and tried to escape out of the hospital window! Unsurprisingly, Gary grew into an adult who could only be described as larger than life. This description applied both figuratively and literally – Gary was a garish storyteller who stood at 6’8” tall. As an adult, Gary enlisted in the United States Navy, a time he spoke of with great pride. He also spent time with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. Gary’s greatest pride in life, however, was his two daughters, April and Kate. Gary loved his girls fiercely and was their biggest cheerleader in life. He poured this same enthusiasm into his newfound role as Pop Pop to Windsor Bristow (9), James Bristow (6), Brooke Barrier (3), and J.W. Barrier (1). Gary is survived by his loyal and devoted wife, Caryl, his daughter April Bristow, son-in-law Chris Bristow, daughter Kate Barrier, son-in-law Jonathan Barrier, and his beloved grandchildren. In addition, Gary is survived by his siblings James W. Justus, III, Randall Justus, Ann Rogers, Rebecca Underwood, Judy Donaldson, and Richard Justus, as well as many nieces and nephews. A graveside service to honor Gary will be held at the South Florida National Cemetery on Wednesday March 12, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. There will be a memorial luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to K-9 for Warriors