Gary J. Tuttle
Gary Jack Tuttle, a longtime resident of Eastport, died on Wednesday, November 21, just a few weeks before his 66th birthday.
Mr. Tuttle enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in March 1966 and served for three years, including an 18-month tour of duty in Vietnam. After returning to Long Island, he joined the carpenters union and worked for a few years with the union before spending several years working for Horton Construction of Mattituck. During this time, he married his first wife, Claudette Jeanroy, in August 1973, and they lived in Aquebogue, where they raised their children, Robert and Daniel.
After his divorce, he married Priscilla Downs of Westhampton Beach, and the couple moved to Eastport. Mr. Tuttle continued to work for Horton Construction until 1991, at which time he went into business on his own. Over the years, he worked for many local people on remodels, new construction and roofs. He redid the roof on the steeple at Eastport Bible Church in the early 1990s.
Mr. Tuttle developed rheumatoid arthritis in the late 1990s and was unable to continue working as he had in the past, although he still continued to work at small jobs.
Mr. Tuttle also spent much of his time hunting for antiques, refinishing older pieces of furniture, and collecting records and other valuables. Over the past few years, he rented space at an antiques store on Montauk Highway in East Moriches, where he would spend many hours reading and speaking with regular customers.
A very large part of his life was the church community at Eastport Bible Church, where he has served as an elder on the board of trustees, taught Adult Sunday School classes, and worked as a leader in both the Youth Group and Stockade programs. He was working on the parsonage garage the day he died.
Mr. Tuttle was well-known to many in Eastport and had daily routines during which he would stop at many of the establishments in town to visit with local people.
He is survived by his five children, Robert and Daniel from his first marriage, and Charles, Faith, and John from his present marriage. He is also survived by his wife of almost 25 years, Priscilla; a sister, Merrilee Clark of Speonk; and two brothers, James Tuttle of Pennsylvania and Steven Tuttle of Indiana. He is predeceased by his parents, Jack and Norma Tuttle.
Visitation was at Follett and Werner Funeral Home on Sunday, November 25, and a private interment was held on Monday, November 26, at the Eastport Cemetery. A memorial service was held at Eastport Bible Church on Monday, November 26, at 7 p.m.
on Nov 26, 2012