Gary E. "Tony" Calvin, 73
Gary E. “Tony” Calvin, 73, formerly of Kansas City and Osceola, passed away on Saturday, May 26. He was born in Ava, Mo., on Dec. 31, 1938, the second of three children and only son of Jerry and Maurine Henderson Calvin.
He graduated from Ava High School in 1956. On Jan. 19, 1957 he was joined in marriage to Darlene Dobbs. They moved their family to Kansas City in 1960. Tony retired from Canteen Vending, and he and Darlene formed their own vending company which they operated for many years together. They found a house of their dreams on their travels, and left the city for Osceola in 1994.
Tony’s priorities were God, Family and Country. He gave freely of his time and talents to the Longview YMCA and the Ruskin High School Booster Club, along with the Grandview Masonic Lodge where he was a Shriner. His biggest joy was coaching girls’ softball and boys’ football at the YMCA. He was an avid supporter of Ruskin High School and whether it was running chains at a football game or working at the Bingo Hall on Wednesday nights, Tony was there. He loved sports of any kind, and was a very passionate fan of the Missouri Tigers.
He became somewhat of an expert in genealogy, and he and Darlene visited many cemeteries over the years chasing down both Dobbs and Calvin ancestors. He was also an avid country music fan and scholar; with the ability to tell you who wrote what song and who sang it. Tony also enjoyed his collection of Louis L’Amour novels and read the same ones over and over; and he never missed a John Wayne movie on television, his favorite being “The Quiet Man.” But his fondest activity the past few years was getting in his truck and traveling the highways around Osceola right at dusk, counting deer and turkey.
Tony is preceded in death by his wife, Darlene Dobbs Calvin; two daughters, Terrie Calvin Carey and Tammi Calvin Ragusa; two sisters, Janice Calvin Beard and Margaret Calvin Malone; a niece, Pamela Hurst, and a nephew, Sean Dobbs.
He is survived by a daughter, Toni Lea Calvin, Raytown; a son and daughter-in-law, Clayton and Sheryl Calvin, Kansas City; four grandchildren, Beth Ragusa Riley (Mike), Lee’s Summit; Angela Carey, Olathe; Tony Carey (Jamie), Olathe; and Jordan Edwards, Kansas City; five great-grandchildren, Caleb, Caitlyn, Jae, Jackie, and Jolene; and in-laws Don and Pat Dobbs and David and Sandy Dobbs Chambers, Ava; and Charles Malone, Salem. He also leaves behind his beloved nieces and nephews, his cousins and other extended family, and many, many precious friends.
Visitation will be held at the Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home in Osceola from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 1. Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. at Sheldon’s on Saturday, June 2, followed by graveside services in Ava at 2 p.m. at Denney Cemetery. The family suggests contributions to the cemetery, in care of Doyne Huffman, Route 1, Box 535, Ava MO 65608, in lieu of flowers.
