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Fair Ehler O. Gregory, 91
Had ‘a wicked sense of humor’
Longtime Woodmere resident Ehler O. Gregory was a renaissance man, having a broad range of interests from bird watching to horticulture to sports.
Gregory died on Feb. 23 in Lynbrook. He was 91.
Born in New York City on May 19, 1926, he attended the forerunner of SUNY Farmingdale — the New York State School Of Agriculture on Long Island — where he studied horticulture. Gregory continued that interest throughout his life as family members said, “he had am amazing green thumb,” and loved to grow flowers, especially orchids.
“He had his own lean-to walk-in greenhouse at home and grew these really beautiful orchids,” said Ruth Barlow, his niece.
He served in the U.S. Army in Germany as a young man. Gregory and his wife, Evelyn, lived in Woodmere for more than six decades.
A lover of the outdoors, Gregory sailed, played tennis, kept current on sports and painted watercolor works of art. He also had “a wicked sense of humor,” family members said.
When asked for an example, Barlow said: “None that I can share with you,” stifling a laugh. “Bawdy is the right word for it. It was farm humor, guy humor. He saw the humor in life.”
Gregory is survived by his twin brother, Edward “Ted” Gregory Jr. and sister-in-law Aurora; niece Ruth Barlow, and several cousins, including Kit Campbell Hoper, Luanna Campbell Bowen and Gregory Poole Jr. Evelyn, his parents Edward S. and Marie Osterholt Gregory, and his cousins Gregory and Irene Poole Sr., Russell and Dot Campbell, and their son, Rusty Campbell, preceded him in death.
A service in celebration and honor of Gregory’s life will be on Friday, March 16 at 11 a.m. at Trinity-St. John’s Episcopal Church at 1142 Broadway in Hewlett.
In lieu of flowers, send donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
