Gary T. Becker, 79, Sebastian
He lived. He died. As a member of the Silent Generation, the demographic that didn’t enjoy the notoriety of the Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers it was sandwiched between, Gary T. Becker would have been perfectly content with that simplest and purest of epitaphs.
Accolades and portraying an exaggerated sense of self-importance? Save that for the next guy. Gary and those of his ilk grew up in an era in which you put your head down, didn’t complain and got to work. No task too arduous. No work too demeaning.
Yet no matter how formidable of a foundation is built, there comes a time when even the strongest among us fall. That time for Gary T. Becker came on Oct. 4, 2019, when the retired businessman and devoted family man passed away in Sebastian, following a brief illness. He was 79.
Gary was born in Saginaw to Gertrude and Casper Becker on May 11, 1940.
From an early age, Gary developed a work ethic that would come to define him, caddying at the Saginaw Country Club and, as a scrawny but determined youngster, lugging heavy newspaper bags through all kinds of unpleasant conditions on his paper route in the City of Saginaw.
A graduate of St. Peter & Paul High School, Gary was a talented baseball catcher back in the day and later was one of the top hitters in the Saginaw City Baseball Federation.
But his greatest and the only love of his life was a striking blonde named Bentley Ann Rock, a St. Andrew graduate whom he married on June 26, 1959, in Saginaw.
The couple, who raised four children while still kids themselves, enjoyed 56 years of marriage together until his beloved bride passed away on Aug. 17, 2015, in Vero Beach.
Gary’s formal education may have concluded with high school, but the self-made man was a voracious reader, well-versed in myriad subject matters. He earned his Ph.D from the School of Hard Knocks.
The couple raised their family in Saginaw, where Gary, then in his mid-20s, walked away from a stable and good-paying job at Saginaw Steering Gear. His factory cohorts told him he was nuts but even then Gary did it his way.
“You can make a living working for someone else but to make money you have to work for yourself,” he once said.
Gary and his younger brother, Jimmy Becker, formed Becker Asphalt Paving Company. Under their leadership (and assistance from their wives, Bentley and Connie, respectively) the company flourished in Saginaw for decades.
While in the paving business Gary and Bentley developed a beautiful 20-acre wooded parcel in Saginaw Township into Westbecker Woods, an upscale community where they made their home and created priceless memories with family and friends.
Later, Gary owned and operated Crystal Lake Marina in Beulah with his older brother David before retiring to North Hutchinson Island, Fla.
Gary’s acerbic wit and sense of humor frequently made him the life of the party. Laughs and libations flowed like a politician’s campaign promises at the imposing marble table in the kitchen of Gary and Bentley’s Florida home, where they were frequently stationed and loved to entertain.
Fiercely loyal to family and friends, Gary certainly did it his way and, with the exception of his children, didn’t suffer fools. He’ll always be the Becker kids’ Chairman of the Board.
“Dad, we raise a glass to you for a life well-lived. A special thanks goes out to Tom and Jill Wright and Jan and Janice for the love and help they provided Dad in Florida post-Mom.”
Gary is survived by his children, Jon (Lisa) Becker, Jan (Janice Robinson) Becker, Jill (Tom) Wright, and Jason Becker; along with his brothers, Jimmy (Connie), Raymond (Priscilla); and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, David; and parents, Gertrude and Casper.
Honoring Gary’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no service.
A private celebration of his life will take place at a later date.
Heidi Bingham Stott, 83, Vero Beach
Heidi Bingham Stott, 83, of Vero Beach, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Oct. 22, 2019. Born in Hartford, Ct., she was the daughter of Dr. Charles Tiffany Bingham and Kathleen Howell Bingham, and the granddaughter of Hiram Bingham, former U.S. Senator from Connecticut and discoverer of Machu Picchu in Peru.
She graduated from Miss Porter’s School and attended Sarah Lawrence College.
She is survived by her four children, Kathleen Fell Connor (Tom), John Fell (Evelyn), Michael Fell, and Jeffrey Fell; four grandchildren; two step-sons, David and Lawrence Stott; and five step-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband of 30 years, Robert L. Stott, Jr.
Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2365 Pine Ave., Vero Beach, on Nov. 22 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church.
Sally Warner Wyer, 88, Vero Beach
Sally Warner Wyer, 88, passed away on Oct. 19, 2019, in Vero Beach. Sally was born on Jan. 27, 1931, in Minneapolis, Minn., to William James Warner and Zelva Compton Warner (later Zelva Laird).
She attended Northrup Collegiate School in Minneapolis, followed by Briarcliff College in Westchester County, N.Y.
During high school Sally spent portions of many winters with her mother in Dallas, Texas, at the home of her grandparents Judge Charles V. and Jessie Compton.
She married Stephen C. Wyer, of Wayzata, Minn., on Aug. 10, 1950, and the Wyers remained residents of Wayzata until moving to Vero Beach in 1984.
Like her mother, Sally was a Colonial Dame. Throughout her life she selflessly cared and prayed for others.
In Minneapolis, she was a board member of the Courage Center, an institution dedicated to meeting needs of children and adults with disabilities.
In Wayzata, she was an active member of the Garden Club of America, and in Vero Beach was co-founder and honorary member of the Garden Group at John’s Island.
Sally was an active member of Episcopal churches in Minneapolis, and most recently of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Vero Beach.
She was an avid golfer at Riomar Country Club. Sally and Steve enjoyed many months with family at their summer home in the mountains outside of Red Lodge, Mont.
She had exquisite artistic tastes, and was an interior decorator for many homes of friends and clients in Vero Beach.
She is survived by her son, William James Wyer (wife, Daniela); her daughter, Molly Wyer Fitzpatrick (husband, John); four grandchildren, Malcolm and Rufus Wyer, Sarah (wife, Sarah), and Dylan Fitzpatrick; and a great-granddaughter, Persis Fitzpatrick-Evans.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Indian River Symphonic Association, P.O. Box 2801, Vero Beach, FL 32961.
