Gerald "Gary" Landreth Bacon

Gerald Landreth Bacon was born February 8, 1936, in Hastings, NE to Lulu (Landreth) and Leslie Bacon. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1954. Gary graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a BA in Music Education. While at Wesleyan, he met his wife Myrtle Lindemood. Myrt and Gary were married in 1958 and graduated in 1959. From this marriage, three wonderful children were born: Brent, Joy, and Chad.

Gary started his music life in Jr. High School, playing a snare drum his grandmother gave him. He continued playing in high school band, orchestra, was drum major, sang in mixed chorus, and played tympani in the Dime Symphony of Hastings. In college, he was drum major of the band and participated in Chapel Choir, Male Chorus, and musicals. He directed the choruses for the Lincoln Pinewood Bowl musicals for three summers. Before college graduation, he taught instrumental and vocal music at Bloomfield, NE school on a temporary teaching certificate.

After graduation, Gary and Myrt stayed in Lincoln where he taught part-time at Clatonia, NE and started working on a MA in Music Education at UNL, which he completed in 1965. They later moved to Loup City, NE, where he taught instrumental and vocal music and organized a community choir to present the Easter portion of The Messiah. Three years later, he began teaching vocal music in Schuyler, NE and organized a community orchestra which accompanied the high school programs/musicals. In 1967, the family moved to Scottsbluff, NE, where he taught vocal music for 28 years until retirement in 1995.

Gary directed the Methodist Church’s Chancel, Jr., and Sr. High choirs for nearly 50 years. In the summers, he took the youth choirs on tours to other churches across the US. He was honored to receive the NWU Alumni Loyalty and Outstanding Music Alumni Awards. He was an original founder of the NE Choral Directors’ Association and served as Choral Affairs Chairman and Secretary. He was inducted into the NE Choral Directors Hall of Fame in 1994. He was a member of the Methodist Church, was past president of the American Heart Association, and a hospital volunteer. After retirement, he worked for the State of NE K-12 Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum Project. He taught voice for several years at WNCC.

Gary was a friend to all. He knew no strangers.

Gary passed away December 6, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Myrt, son Brent (Patricia), grandsons Marc (Tess) and Derek (Dallas) and great-granddaughter Clara, daughter Joy Stuckert (Douglas), granddaughter Alisa, son Chad (Danna), grandsons Chase and Dayne, sister Gloria, and several nieces and nephews. Gary is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Leslie, Ray, and Gordon, and sisters Vesta, Shirley, Evonne, Darline and Marjory.

Memorial service is scheduled for 10 am, Saturday, December 14, 2024, at The Vine United Methodist Church, 2002 4th Ave. Scottsbluff, NE 69361.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Vine United Methodist Church Scottsbluff or to the Scottsbluff High School Auditorium Improvement Project.