Gary D. Frazier, 78
Gary D. Frazier, 78, of Springfield, was honored Sept. 26, 2024, by a final salute from the Warriors' Watch Riders at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home in Springfield before full military honors were rendered later Thursday at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery on Southwood Road in Springfield. Gary died Sept. 16, 2024.
He was born April 12, 1946, in West Plains, the son of Mearle and Lois Frazier. He graduated in 1964 from Gainesville High School and attended Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, from 1964 until 1966. He was commissioned in 1966 and joined the Army National Guard. On Aug. 28, 1970, in West Plains, he married Kathy Adams; they were married 34 years and were blessed with a daughter, Jennifer.
Gary worked alongside his father, Mearle, helping develop the Wayhaven subdivision in West Plains, taking on various roles, including building homes. He also contributed to Crown Tractor, a John Deere equipment dealership in West Plains. Gary took great pride in being part of these family businesses and supporting his local community.
He was co-founder, first president and pilot for Air Evac Lifeteam in West Plains from 1985 until 1987, bringing air ambulance services with a membership program to Southwest Missouri. During this time, he expanded the operations with helicopters at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield and St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was an air ambulance helicopter pilot at Southeast Missouri Hospital (Lifebeat) in Cape Girardeau from 1988 until 1994 and an air ambulance helicopter pilot at Cox South Medical Center (Cox Air Care) in Springfield from 1994 until 2008.
Gary proudly served our country as a helicopter pilot in the Army National Gaurd for 35 years. He achieved the rank of Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5) and was a Master Army Aviator flying Hueys, Cobras and Blackhawks. He was awarded two National Defense Service Medals, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserved Medal, seven Army Reserve Component Medals and National Guard 202 Olympic Winter Games Service Ribbon.
Gary enjoyed flying airplanes and helicopters, classic cars, street rods and motorcycles. He once explained in a newspaper interview why he chose flying: “I got tired of walking. I looked up and saw the pilots; I thought they had it made,” and “One day I decided to do what I enjoyed. I enjoyed flying, and I wanted to do it full time.”
On Sept. 21, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Florida, Gary married Hanna Shcherbyna. Together they lovingly raised a son, Yan. Gary was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He loved his family immensely and was always generous with his time, advice and expertise, and would help everyone he could. Gary was widely respected by his peers, family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Hanna Shcherbyna and son Yan Shcherbyna of Springfield; daughter Jennifer Frazier Cook and husband Rob of Ozark; grandson Theron Dakin of Ozark; previous wife Kathy Clark and her husband David of Cumming, Georgia; one sister, Christy Frazier of West Plains; many nieces, nephews and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Michael M. Frazier.
Memorial donations may be made to Ukraine Relief at https://monstrov.org or the Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org.
Arrangements by Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Springfield.