Dr. Bilge Bayar Gregory

We have lost our beloved Bilge Ayse Bayar Gregory who passed away on Mother’s Day, May 12th, 2024 at the age of 49. Bilge was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 14th, 1974 and died in Phoenix, Arizona where she has built a beautiful life for decades. Bilge was very much in love with her husband, Phoenix Firefighter/ Paramedic Brad Bo Gregory, and they have an extremely loving, intelligent, humorous and entrepreneurial 11 year-old son named Aydin Grant Gregory who is probably a better driver than you.

Bilge was raised by two hard-working and caring physicians, Dr. Emel Bayar and Dr. Ahmet Bayar who gave her their everything. Editorial note- mother’s name is mentioned first because Bilge is a feminist. From an early age, Bilge was determined to follow in their footsteps; when she was just four years old, she would answer the telephone, “Dr. Bee-beh.” Soon thereafter, she had a little sister, Sine Emine Bayar, for whom she had begged for years. Within a few weeks, Mom found Sine tipped over in her baby rocker, face on the floor, next to Bilge explaining her mischievous actions, “how would I know she’d be such a brat?” Despite this early rocky transition, Bilge quickly grew into her role to become an outstanding, devoted abla (older sister).

Throughout her formative years, Bilge excelled as an over-achieving Honor Roll Student, soccer player, and Barbie defacer (she would shave their heads like Hari Krishnas). Growing up, Bilge split her time between the United States, Turkiye and Cyprus. One of her happiest places was Bizimkoy outside of Istanbul, where she spent every summer on the beach. She later attended some of the nation’s top educational institutions including the University of Michigan where she joined the Sigma Kappa sorority, then went on to medical school at Case-Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Upon graduating, she took up residency as an Emergency Room Physician in Phoenix, where she spent endless days and nights tirelessly providing care to patients in every situation imaginable.

While in Arizona, Bilge truly lived her life to the fullest. She was a talented chef who will now be forgiven for posting copious pictures of her culinary creations. Her capable hands could paint and draw as exceptionally well as they could perform surgery. Bilge was a voracious reader who attacked thousand-page novels in a matter of days and a lover of dance who would shake it like a Polaroid picture. She was also an adventurous world traveler who spent time hiking to Machu Pichu in Peru, scuba diving in Belize, spelunking with glow-worms in New Zealand, safariing in East Africa, and mindlessly forgetting her backpack on a bullet-train in Japan. She loved her dogs and had a deep knowledge and respect of all living creatures. With her husband and son, Bilge enjoyed hiking, horse-back riding, boating, snowboarding and exercising, then hydrating herself with unusually over-sized water bottles.

Bilge inspired so many people and dedicated her time to serving others with her surgical hands, love, and advice. In her life journey, she gracefully transitioned from saving lives to changing lives and even opened her own cosmetic surgery practice. Any person who crossed Bilge’s path can attest to her vibrant luminosity and her ability to light up any room. Bilge always said, “if it doesn’t make you glow, you have to let it go.” She shone as brightly as her (potentially gaudy) diamonds;

Bilge will be missed, loved, and cherished by us all.

Bilge’s funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 25th, 2024 at 10:00am.

The location will be Mountain Park Church:

16461 S. 48th St. Phoenix, Arizona 85048

Burial services will follow at Green Acres Memorial Park:

401 N Hayden Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85257