Looking around the commons area at Oxford Middle School on Saturday, it’s hard to believe there was anyone who didn’t know Daryne Andrew Gailey.
An estimated 400 to 450 people attended a memorial service for Gailey, who was slain in his Oxford Township home the weekend before Thanksgiving.
‘We know Daryne would be thrilled to see such an incredible turnout in celebration of his life,? said his brother-in-law Seth Wagner, who delivered Gailey’s eulogy. ‘He was so fortunate to have so many friends who truly served as an extension of his family.?
A 2003 Oxford High School graduate and a full-time clerk at the Kroger grocery store in Lake Orion for 15 years, Gailey was an extremely popular guy, beloved and befriended by all who were lucky enough to encounter him.
‘Once you talked to him, he was your friend,? said former OHS Principal Mike Schweig. ‘Everybody knew him.?
People were instantly drawn to Gailey because of his ever-present smile, his warmth and his ‘unshakable optimism,? as Wagner put it.
‘He could see the bright side of every situation,? Wagner said.
‘We all know Daryne faced many challenges and some disappointments, but he never allowed that to define him,? said Jack Kobliska, who was like an uncle to Gailey. ‘In fact, he’s an inspiration to us all.?
‘He had his own struggles in life, but he was just a happy-go-lucky kid,? said Kathy Hubbard, who was Gailey’s boss at Kroger for seven years. ‘You think of Daryne, you think of a smile.?
His sister, Carly Gailey, said he had the ‘innate ability to see the best in every person he met.?
Described by Wagner as ‘a gentle giant? with a ‘sweet, tender disposition,? Gailey loved to help people, whether they were his co-workers and customers at Kroger or his friends and family.
‘Daryne would offer a helping hand and a hopeful perspective,? Wagner said.
‘I could ask him to do anything and he would do it,? Hubbard said.
‘He was always there to help you, no matter what,? said Derrek Gallo, a 2002 OHS graduate and close friend of Gailey’s for more than 10 years.
‘If you were down and needed reassurance and a listening ear, Daryne was there,? Carly Gailey said. ‘If you were at a party and needed a dance partner, Daryne was there with all of his best moves . . . Whenever possible, Daryne seized the opportunity to make the lives of those around him a little better.?
Gailey truly cared about others. He always wanted to know how a person was doing and inquired about their family.
‘With him, it wasn’t a passing comment,? Schweig said. ‘He would focus on you for the whole time that he talked with you. He was so genuine.?
‘He was just a pure soul,? said friend Peggy Bartz. ‘The best thing we could do to remember him is when people go to Kroger, they need to talk to each other, ask how everyone is doing and show concern.?
His absence at the Lake Orion Kroger is definitely being felt, especially by those who fondly recalled how he would loudly call out their name from clear across the store whenever they walked in.
‘After his passing, I walked into Kroger and it just wasn’t the same,? Hubbard said.
‘I think it will be a very, very long time, if ever, that we will walk into that Kroger without thinking of Daryne and remembering that he always greeted us with a big smile,? Kobliska said.
When he wasn’t working, Gailey enjoying camping, riding all-terrain vehicles, dancing and attending celebrations.
Motor vehicles, particularly trucks, were his passion and had been since he was a young boy.
‘He loved giving anyone who would listen advice on what their future vehicle would be,? Wagner said.
Gailey was obsessed with ‘anything that involved keys, wheels or a motor,? according to Wagner, and he loved spending countless hours with his dad either tinkering in the garage or tracking down parts.
Those who knew Gailey are certain they’ll ‘never meet another human being who received such pleasure? from reading the Kelley Blue Book and auto parts catalogs or who could ‘talk about trucks for an entire 10-hour car trip,? Wagner said.
As much as Gailey loved everything auto-related, his priorities shifted gears when his daughter Charley Lillian Hendrick was born in April of this year.
‘His daughter was the love of his life and he was so proud to show her off,? Wagner said.
Gailey was constantly telling people about her and showing everyone the latest baby photos on his cell phone.
‘You could tell Charley was the center of his world,? Gallo said. ‘I can still remember him coming over and telling me he was going to be a dad. He had a big smile on his face.?
Sadly, Hendrick was found dead the same day as her father. She was in the house, but in another room.
‘Daryne and his daughter are now in a place where they’re always going to be happy,? Hubbard said.
Sylvia Majewska, Gailey’s mother and Hendrick’s grandmother, has been charged with the first-degree murders of both of them (see related story on Page 1.)
Reflecting on his life as a whole, Wagner said Gailey’s life goals were to have a truck, a dog, a good job, be surrounded by good friends, fall in love, get married and have a family.
‘Simple wishes for a loving guy,? he said. ‘Nothing gives us greater peace than to know that all of his dreams came true during his short time with us.?
In death, Kobliska said Gailey has become ‘a teacher.?
‘He teaches us to live each day with a smile even when things are not going so well; to be tolerant and respectful of everyone; to work hard (and) to show up every day; and to be kind and gentle to all,? he said. ‘He teaches us that if we do these things, we will be remembered and loved.?
Even though Gailey’s life was tragically cut short, Wagner said he knows his brother-in-law, being the positive guy he was, ‘would want all of us to find some harmony and optimism in his unfortunate ending.?
‘We hope that in the dark days, Daryne’s light and optimism will continue to brighten all of those he touched,? he said.
‘In this life, there are so many beautiful reasons we have to be happy and Daryne reminded us of that everyday,? Carly Gailey said.