William JohnGREGORYDied peacefully on 11th May aged 98. It is said that everyone is either of somewhere or nowhere. Jack was the very definition of a man of somewhere - North Tawton a small mid Devon town. He was born, raised and lived his whole life there and was very much part of the North Tawton and surrounding community. He was born in 1924 and educated at Okehampton Grammar School. On leaving school he joined Lloyds Bank working in Tavistock. In 1947 and with admirable foresight he joined his Father Archie in the business now known as Gregory Distribution. It had been decimated by the Second World War and for the next 40 years Jack transformed it from a local delivery business working in conjunction with the railway into a sizeable regional transport and warehousing operation. On Jack's retirement his son John took over and, to his Father's great pride, built on the sound foundations Jack had created to establish the significant national business it is today. The visit of King Charles in 2019 (when Prince of Wales) to celebrate the centenary of the business was a great highlight of his retirement. Jack was far more than a successful businessman. In 1953 he had, what he described as the great good fortune, to marry Kennedy, also an only child and from North Tawton. They had three sons Simon, John and Tim. Family was very important to Jack and his seventy years of happy married life to Kennedy was the fundamental cornerstone of his life. Together they forged a fulfilling life full of family, community, travel and friends. Jack believed in supporting the local community. He was a long-term Rotarian for whom he was an effective fundraiser. He was also the regional chair of the Road Haulage Association, a lifelong supporter of the Conservative party and a Parish Councillor. Jack played cricket for North Tawton for many years giving it up to play golf which he enjoyed well into his 80s. He enjoyed painting. This rich and rewarding life was carried out notwithstanding the fact that at 47 he suffered a retinal haemorrhage that left him partially sighted. It is typical of him that he did not allow himself to be defined by his disability preferring always to see things positively and optimistically. He is survived, and will be greatly missed, by his wife Kennedy, his three sons, five grandchildren, two step grandchildren and one great grandson. A thanksgiving service is to be held on Wednesday 31st May at 2.00 pm at St Peter's Church, North Tawton. No flowers please but donations if desired to RNIB and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Enquiries (including those relating to a donation) to Drew & Son Funeral Directors, Longhayes, Venton, Drewsteignton, Exeter EX6 6PG Tel. 01647 231306
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