Dr. Gary W. Boggess, 81, of Hardin, Kentucky passed peacefully Monday morning with family members by his side at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray following a valiant battle with cancer.
“Dr. B” as he was known on the Murray State University campus, served as Dean of Science and Professor of Chemistry from 1978-1998 and devoted much of his life to academics, research and helping all of those he touched achieve their greatest potential.
Gary Wade Boggess was born in Hardin, Kentucky on August 31, 1936 to the late Guy and Palice Henderson Boggess. As president of Hardin High School’s 1954 graduating class, he accepted a full basketball scholarship to UT – Martin but returned home after one year.
Boggess worked at Pittsburgh Metallurgic in Calvert City before and while completing his B.S. degree at Murray State in 1962. He taught Chemistry and Mathematics at Murray High School from 1962-1966. Earned his Masters Degree from Purdue University in 1966 and later that year joined the Murray State faculty as a member of the chemistry department. Received his PhD at the University of Tennessee in 1973. He returned to MSU and worked his way up through the ranks to become dean of the College of Science in 1978.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Molly McKinney Boggess of Hardin; son, Bobby (Debra) of Murray; daughter, Becky; brother, Charles of Hardin; granddaughter, Brooke (Billy) Keeling of Calloway County; granddaughter, Blair (Jake) Daughaday of Medina, TN; grandson, Trad (Michele) Carlisle of Georgetown; and great grandchildren, Garrett and Gage Keeling, Gavin, Piper and Jack Daughaday and Kiera and Cade Carlisle.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home with John Dale officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
Online condolences can be made at, www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com
