Everett Clyde Bryant, Jr. of High Point, NC and Weatherford, TX died Monday, May 5, 2014. He was born on March 3, 1927 to Everett Clyde and Margaret Reilly Bryant. Gabby attended High Point city schools, including the Little Red School House, the McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN and Davidson College where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. In 1945, he enlisted and served proudly in the U.S. Navy. Upon his discharge, Gabby went to work for Drexel Furniture and began a lifetime career in the furniture industry.
He enjoyed working with furniture designers and manufacturers representing Continental Brass, Ottens Products and others. On June 27, 1952, Gabby married “the prettiest girl he ever saw”, Jean Cochrane Neal. Jean died on June 25, 2013 days shy of their 61st wedding anniversary. Gabby was an avid and accomplished amateur golfer. He qualified for and competed in the 1964 U.S.G.A Amateur Championship at the Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland. He, along with his frequent match play partner, Dale Morey, won multiple Carolina 4-Ball tournaments in Camden, SC as well as Carolina vs Virginia Captain’s Putter trophies.
Gabby served on the Board of Directors of the Carolina Golf Association and the Southern Golf Association. In the early ’80’s, Gabby and Jean made the decision to divide their time between High Point and Weatherford, TX where they successfully pursued their dream of ranching and raising champion cutting horses. His prize stallion, Doc’s Solano, was ranked in the top 25 on the list of all-time leading cutting horse sires.
In 1999 Gabby was inducted into the National Cutting Horse Association’s Breeders Hall of Fame. He was one of the leaders instrumental in promoting cutting horse events both in Texas and on the East Coast where he served as a Board member and President of the Augusta Futurity. Gabby was also proud of raising his children and grandchildren. Grandfather was given to bragging about every accomplishment of his three beloved grandsons.
In addition to his parents and his wife, Jean, Gabby was preceded in death by his sister, Miss Peggy Bryant and by his son, Everett Clyde Bryant, III. He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Bryant Young and her husband Ron of Weatherford, TX, Lynn Bryant Finnegan and her husband Jim of High Point, and Jean Neal Bryant of Dallas, TX as well as his grandsons, James Patrick Finnegan, III of Carrboro, NC, Everett Bryce Young of Hanover, NH and Reilly Bryant Finnegan of Chapel Hill, NC.
The family would like to acknowledge and thank his caregivers, especially Janet (Gladys) Sumpter, Sharon Phillips and Barbara Green. Special thanks also to the Ministry at Wesley Memorial and to Dr. Richard Orr and Dr. Barry Cheek and their teams. In accordance with his wishes, services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1225 Chestnut Drive, High Point, NC 27262 or to the charity of one’s choice. Please offer condolences to the family at www.sechrestfunerals.com.