Gary Wayne Laws

Obituaries

CONOVER - Gary Wayne Laws, 62, of Conover, died Sept. 13, 2010. A memorial service will be held at noon Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010, at First United Methodist Church in Conover. The family will be at the church from 10 to 11:45 a.m. prior to the service. Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover is serving the Laws family.

Gary Laws Gary Wayne Laws, 62, of Conover, died Monday, Sept. 13, 2010 at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory. He was born on July 23, 1948 in Mooresville to the late Vernon and Dollie Wensell Laws.

Mr. Laws was a government and community relations manager for Duke Energy Carolinas. He was reponsible for managing Duke Energy's key business and governmental relationships within Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and McDowell counties. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Conover.

He joined Duke Power in 1969 as a line technician. After 10 years in construction, engineering and operations, he moved to Charlotte. From Charlotte, Gary served in various marketing management and general management positions in North and South Carolina. Mr. Laws attended Central Piedmont Community College and UNC Charlotte and studied environmental engineering and business administration.

He was currently active in NCCBI, NC FREE, Advantage West, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Western Piedmont Council of Governments, Unifour Area Open Space and Recreation Task Force, Lake Hickory Rotary Club, Lenoir-Rhyne University Business Council, a trustee of the Catawba Valley Medical Center, and served on the boards of the Catawba County EDC, Catawba County United Way, Lake James State Park and Appalalchian State University Small Business Technology. He was a past chairman of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce.

Gary is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jeanne Talbert Laws of the home; son, Shane Laws and wife, Katy, of Fletcher; daughter, Courtney Smith of Hickory; grandchildren, Grace Laws, Anna Laws and Madison Smith; and sisters, Pauline Hucks of Huntersville and Maxine Wade of Mooresville. A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 at First United Methodist Church in Conover with Rev. Mickey Moree officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10-11:45 a.m. at the church.

Memorials may be made to Catawba County United Way, PO Box 2425, Hickory NC 28603. Condolences may be sent to the Laws family at www.drumfuneral home.com The Laws family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover.

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Gary W. Laws, described by friends and co-workers as a gentle giant whose imprint on the Greater Hickory Metro will last forever, died unexpectedly Monday at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

Laws, government and community relations manager for Duke Energy Carolinas, was 62. His community involvement was varied and extensive, encompassing leadership roles with Catawba County Economic Development Corp., Catawba County United Way, Ensure Classic at Rock Barn and the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce.

"This community has been blessed to have Gary Laws, who positively touched every facet of this community in one way or another," said Danny Hearn, Chamber of Commerce president. "He cannot be replaced."

Hearn and Jim Correll, executive tournament director of the Ensure Classic at Rock Barn, said the loss of Laws will be felt especially hard during the upcoming Champions Tour golf event.

Laws was 2010 chairman of the Greater Hickory Classic Foundation Board, which manages the tournament.

"This is a tremendous loss, not only for the tournament, but for the entire community," Correll said.

"Wherever you'd go, you'd see Gary. Our community is a much better place for his being here." In his position with Duke Energy Carolinas, Laws was responsible for managing the company's key business and governmental relationships in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and McDowell counties.

He was active in North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, Advantage West, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Western Piedmont Council of Governments, Unifour Area Open Space and Recreation Task Force, Lake Hickory Rotary Club and Lenoir-Rhyne University Business Council.

He was a trustee of Catawba Valley Medical Center, and served on the boards of the Catawba County EDC, Catawba County United Way, Lake James State Park and the N.C. Small Business and Technology Development Center at Appalachian State University. Laws was a past chairman of the Catawba County Chamber of Commerce.

Laws, a Mooresville native, joined Duke Power in 1969 as a line technician. After 10 years in construction, engineering and operations, he moved to Charlotte. From Charlotte, he served in various marketing management and general management positions in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Laws attended Central Piedmont Community College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and studied environmental engineering and business administration.

He was married to the former Jeanne Talbert. The Conover couple had two children and three grandchildren.

Jennie B. Connor, executive director of the Catawba County United Way, recalls watching the towering Laws with his twin granddaughters several years ago during a promotional event at Rock Barn.

"It was hilarious watching him corral the two small girls for the photo ... his big stature and his gentle nature," Connor said.

"That's how he volunteered. No questions asked. He always just said, 'Tell me what you need me to do.'"

Laws' unwavering support of the area also impressed Scott Millar, president of the Catawba County Economic Development Corp. "Gary was a great, and mostly silent supporter of many community efforts," Millar said. "His passing goes well beyond his involvement with the EDC. It's a huge loss for many of us."

Joni Davis, vice president of local government and community relations for Duke Energy Carolinas, described her longtime team member as a calm, caring and loyal person.

"He was a true gentleman, an incredible person," Davis said. "Gary Laws will truly be missed."

A memorial service will be held at noon Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Conover, with the Rev. Michael W. Moree officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 to 11:45 a.m. prior to the service. Drum Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Conover is serving the Laws family.