Euell Gary Brady

Euell Gary Brady WAXHAW -- 'Our Most-Loved Curmudgeon,' Euell Gary Brady was born January 14, 1935 and died Friday, February 4, 2011. He was the son of the late Euell Goldson Brady and Bessie Flow Bigham Brady. Funeral services will be held at Walkersville Presbyterian Church, 6204 Brady Road, Waxhaw, NC 28173, on Monday, February 7, 2011 at 2:00 p.m., with a reception in the Fellowship Hall after the service. Memorials may be made to Radio Station WDAV, P.O. Box 8990, Davidson, NC 28035-8990. An educator since 1957, Mr. Brady influenced and helped many students, especially at Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, NC, where he was librarian for 31 years. He was always open and available to students and often was the one person a student could really talk to. He taught students to have confidence and to be well-rounded - to love the arts as well as football. He was also 'Voice of the Vikings' as announcer for the football and basketball games - and at the school stadium, the press-box was named the 'E. Gary Brady Press-box.' He also funded the Brady Memorial Scholarship in honor of his parents, and over two dozen students have received this award. He also composed the words and music for the school song, and created the yearbook's name. As librarian for NC's first 'open' library (no walls), Mr. Brady was often recognized for the school's collection, services, and student involvement. He served on committees of many education and library organizations until retirement in 1998. Known for his collection of neckties, Mr. Brady was also known as a raconteur, and his witty stories and laughter will be missed. In summer, from 1962 to 1987, he worked as a reference librarian at the Public Library of Charlotte, where he authored several publications, including 'By Hoof and Hub,' a tour guide for downtown Charlotte. Mr. Brady held a Bachelor of Arts from Queens College, and a Master of Arts in Education from UNC-Charlotte, and a Specialist in Library and Information Science degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he was a member of the Alumni Association and the Gamecock Club and was a season ticket holder for football games for 35 years. He was also very involved in Walkersville Presbyterian Church, where he was a lifetime member and served in various ways, including Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, and treasurer of the building fund and the church. He taught the adult Sunday School class, and also was pianist for 5 years. (He studied piano for 14 years.) Serving as a precinct official for the Union County Board of Elections from 1962 to 2004, Brady was named a 'Citizen of Democracy' by The Charlotte Observer for his long service to elections. He has been a member of both the Democratic and Republican parties and was a strong believer in the two-party system and the separation of church and state. He was also known for his knowledge of history of the region and the South. He did much of the research and directed the first four productions of the outdoor drama 'Listen and Remember' and also wrote some of the music for it. He also wrote the book, 'Begetting Walkersville: A History of Walkersville Presbyterian Church and the Walkersville Community.' Mr. Brady began teaching in 1957 in Union County at Union High School and later taught at Waxhaw High School, where he graduated in 1953 as senior class president and salutatorian. In 1961, he joined Cabarrus County Schools as librarian at Hartsell School. Gordon Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Ave., Monroe, NC 28112 is caring for the Brady family. Published in Charlotte Observer on February 6, 2011.