Gary Patrick Herrity passed away Tuesday, July, 19, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics - Cardiac Care Unit. A Funeral Mass will be take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Per his wishes, cremation rites will be accorded following the Funeral Mass. Sunday there will be a private burial at St. Mary's Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives at Lemke Funeral Homes - South Chapel (2610 Manufacturing Drive), from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and again before the Funeral Mass on Saturday from 9:15 to 9:45 at the Church. Lemke Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements.
Gary was born on February 18, 1939, the 8th child of Thomas Herrity, DDS, and Ruth (McClintock) Herrity. He was a 40- year teacher/administrator in Clinton Schools, teaching English + social studies and, later, was principal of Franklin, Harding, and Lyons Middle School, and Horace Mann Elementary from 1974 until 2001. After retiring in Iowa, Gary was a counselor for two years in Fulton, IL and was Principal during the closing year of Albany Grade School.
He was also the coach of the 1963 St. Mary's State Baseball Champions and coached basketball, football, and baseball for many years in the Clinton School System. He was recently made an Honorary Team Mate of the St. Mary's 1953 State Basketball Champions, for his efforts to keep the flame alive for the "Irish Dream" team.
In retirement, Herrity wrote over 500 articles about Clinton County History for the Clinton Herald and received a 2015 Iowa Newspaper Assn. award as a Master Columnist. He was Chairman of the Catholic Historical Center (museum) at St. Boniface, and was a member of the Clinton County Historical Society, Clinton's Historic Preservation Commission, the Clinton Planning Commission, and a past member of Martin Luther King and Juneteenth Committees. He was a former Elk and directed Elks Scholarship Contests in the 1960s.
Gary was graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1957 and earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Iowa. Gary married the former Jeanne (King) Straley at St. Mary's Church August 24, 2001.
Gary Herrity was known and loved by countless Clintonians and he, likewise, treasured all his family members, friends/ acquaintances, and former students/their parents… all of whom he said helped him to be a better person. He'd hoped to live long enough to vote for Hillary in November, and is quoted as saying: "Social Justice and The Progressive Movement will ultimately win out, because the needs and well-being of people must be dominant."
Herrity was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Eugene and James; and three sisters, Rita Walton, Joan Baumeister, and Carol Coryn.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Herrity, of Clinton; daughter Rachelle (Roger) Hynes, of Davenport; son Kevin (Shelby Herig) Herrity, of North Liberty; stepson Scott Straley, of Chicago; stepdaughter Sarah Straley, of Columbus, OH; and grandchildren: Laurel Hynes, Ronan Hynes, and Gram Dritz, also, a brother, Richard Herrity, of Clinton, and a sister, Barbara Kemper, of Anoka, MN, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Catholic Historical Center at St. Boniface, to Rotary Club for the refurbishment of Eagle Point Park, or to a charity of your choosing.

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