OBITUARY Gary Lee Napier December 12, 1953 – September 25, 2018 Gary Lee Napier, 64, a United States Air Force Colonel, passed away Tuesday, September 25, peacefully at his home in New Albany, Indiana, following a courageous battle with cancer. Gary was born in Hazard, Kentucky in 1953 and moved with his family to Charlestown, Indiana in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1976 from the University of Louisville, followed by his Juris Doctorate in 1979 from the University of Louisville, School of Law.
He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Court of Military Appeals, and all state and federal courts in Kentucky, Indiana, and Washington, D.C. He was a Colonel of the United States Air Force Reserve, serving as a senior Judge Advocate for the United States Special Operations Command and USAF Special Operations Command, advising special operations forces for missions worldwide during the global war on terrorism. He previously served as the senior Judge Advocate to the United States Air Forces Central Command during the Afghanistan war and later the war in Iraq.
As a member of the Judge Advocate Executive Council, Gary helped establish legal policy for the entire JAG Corps, and served as the Staff Judge Advocate for the Kentucky Air National Guard. He earned four Meritorious Service Medals, four USAF Commendations Medals, and the National Defense Superior Service Medal. He was a graduate of the Air War College and founding partner of a civil litigation firm practicing in Louisville and Southern Indiana.
Gary was an avid outdoorsman who hunted locally and in the western Rockies. He was an NRA Master Rifleman. He spent the last several years of his life taking and teaching Bible studies at his beloved Northside Christian Church.
Gary was preceded in death by his father, Lee Napier. He is survived by three daughters, Jessie Burnett (Nate), Claire Napier Galofaro, Carman Napier; two grandchildren, Laine and Vincent Burnett; mother, Thelma (Fugate) Napier; brother, Randy Napier (Lisa); and his best friend, Rocky Pruitt. A Memorial Reception will be from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm Saturday, September 29, 2018 at Kraft Funeral Service, 2776 Charlestown Road, New Albany, Indiana, with his Memorial Service at 2:00 pm in the Kraft Charlestown Road Chapel.
Burial with Military Honors will be held later at New Albany National Cemetery on Ekin Avenue. The family requests expressions of sympathy be made to Hosparus of Southern Indiana or Northside Christian Church.
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