Gary Stephen Davis

Gary/Lindsay Stephen Davis, 70, passed away in December 1, 2021.

They were preceded in death by their parents, Leo Rex Davis and Dorothy Jane McIntyre Davis, and their brother, Paul Scott Davis. Gary was born in Washington, D.C., where his father worked for NASA as a Research Physicist. When Gary was an infant, he developed a high fever and suffered a seizure that left him brain-damaged. His parents made sure he had the best education and therapy available at that time. Leo and Dorothy devoted their lives to making a better life for Gary and others with developmental disabilities.

When Gary’s father retired in 1981, they moved to Albuquerque where Gary could benefit from the services of ARCA. Gary was able to develop his life skills and his family’s had immense pride in his accomplishment. Gary’s skills allowed him to move into his own apartment within an Independent Living complex. While in Independent Living, Gary made many friends, volunteered regularly, and used the ingenuity that he had inherited from their parents to invent new and interesting recipes, such as their infamous “Spicy Hot Cheeto Meatloaf”. Gary was very proud of his job at the YMCA, where he worked for 32 years, regularly chatting with guests, dusting the cabinets, and brightening up the place with his presence.

Gary routinely volunteered at the local library and had a deep love of reading. Among favorites were the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, the Harry Potter novels, and anything that had to do with US history. Gary/Lindsey was a gentle, soft-spoken friendly, well-mannered soul. With a love of the ARTs, they starred in several short films and plays. They were an avid lover of Star Trek and were known for their spot-on impression of Captain Picard. “Engage and make it so-o-o!”. Many hobbies filled Gary/Lindsey’s days such as being a Washington Redskins Fan. Which was visible by a hat, scarf, gloves, or jacket. Not to mention the Bowling ball.

In the last two years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gary ended up spending a lot of time at home. They used this wealth of time to embrace aspects of them self that were previously unexpressed. Last year, they adopted a new name, Lindsay, and began expressing their feminine identity. Some days, he was Gary, and some days, she was Lindsay. On all days, they were happier. Those who knew Gary/Lindsay are happy that they were able to discover and express new aspects of themselves, even later in life.

At the time of their death, they were under the care of ARCA and a resident at the Reo Home. They are survived by their cousins; their beloved cat Shavon; their housemates; and too many friends to list.

Goodbye, Gary. We have been, and always shall be, your friend.