Gary L. “Lunar” Lomenick
Gary L. “Lunar” Lomenick’s earthly journey ended on October 7, 2017, at age 64. He was born on March 10, 1953, in Iuka, the second son of Harold T. “Dickie” and Estelle Hudson Lomenick.
He was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife of 42 years, Teresa Kerr Lomenick; brothers, Harold E. Lomenick of Iuka, and Robert H. Lomenick of Holly Springs, and their wives, Judy and Penny, whom he loved like sisters; his wife’s sisters, Fredrica Hunter and Patricia Stringer; and brother-in-law, Leonard Stringer with whom he shared a special bond.
Lunar was also very proud of the cast of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends all of whom he loved with a heart that was three sizes too big. Lunar was the proud father of two sons, Van Patrick Lomenick of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Blake Thomas Lomenick of Auburn, Ala., and their wives, Robin Aldridge Lomenick of Florence, Ala., and Beth King Lomenick of Andalusia, Ala. Gary had two granddaughters, Emma Grace and Lily Reese, whom he delighted in spoiling, pestering, and picking at. His love knew no bounds, nor did his good-natured badgering.
He was a lineman the first half of his career and managed meters and substations the last half during his career with the Tishomingo County Electric Power Association, retiring in 2015 after 37 years of service. Lunar loved his years at TCEPA and all the challenges and successes it brought. He truly valued the professional and personal relationships that were fostered over his many years there. After his retirement, “coffee with the guys” at the warehouse was still a weekly occurrence, and one that he reveled in. A teller of prodigious stories, half of everything Lunar said may have been true. He was a Boy Scout in his youth, and was a Scout Master as an adult. After his boys were grown, Lunar still volunteered his time as Cub Scout Leader, continuing to help educate others’ kids in an organization he loved and believed in. Lunar’s interests kept him busy, starting many projects and even finishing a few. He could always be found on his tractor, in his shop working on various metal or wood projects, or complaining about yet another five-gallon bucket of green beans that needed picking from his garden. With the exception of a few years, Gary spent his life in Iuka, a town he loved in the state he loved. He was a proud Mississippian and a proud American who flew Old Glory outside his home. Gary was not a perfect man, but he always went out of his way to help others, and loved those around him completely, even when struggling to show it.
Pallbearers were nephew Matt Posey whom Lunar loved like a son; lifelong friends Robert L. “Bob-o” Brown III, David O. “Bubba” Jourdan III, and Charlie Cutshall, co-workers; and partners in crime Dennis Anglin, Jerry Gray, Kerry Tennison, and Andy Crawford. Honorary pallbearers include all employees, past and present, of the Tishomingo County Electric Power Association.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at Iuka United Methodist Church. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka was entrusted with arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org/donate), Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate), or the Iuka Public Library (http://nereg.lib.ms.us/iuka-public-library/).
paid obituary