Gary Lynn Dove

Gary Lynn Dove, 75, of Solomons, Maryland, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2026, following a courageous battle with lung cancer. A devoted husband, Dad, Papaw, and brother, Gary was a hardworking man whose greatest pride was always his family.

Born in Blountville, Tennessee, Gary was the son of the late Joseph Lester Dove and Melissa Ruth (Harwood) Dove. One of eight children, he was raised on a farm, where he developed the strong work ethic and determination that stayed with him throughout his life.

On May 31, 1973, Gary married Debra in Burnsville, North Carolina. Together, they shared 53 years of marriage and raised two daughters. Gary moved from Tennessee to Maryland in pursuit of better opportunities for his family and worked as a Maintenance Engineer at the Safeway Distribution Center until his retirement in January 2007.

Gary was the kind of man who could fix just about anything. Whether working around the house or tinkering with cars, he enjoyed using his hands and passed those skills along to his daughters. In retirement, he enjoyed fishing, football, old Westerns, picking crabs, eating oysters, and trying his luck at the slot machines. He took great pride in his grandsons and loved spending time with each of them, whether cheering them on at sporting events, looking at cars, working on projects together, or simply enjoying their company.

Gary is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Debra Dove; his daughters, Tamara Cofer and her husband, Pete, of Solomons, Maryland, and Kerri Bennett and her husband, Brad, of Broomes Island, Maryland; and his three grandsons, Matthew McKenzie and his fiancée, Kiki Hall, Luke Cofer, and Liam Bennett.

He is also survived by his siblings, Joann Landon of Bristol, Tennessee; Charlie Dove of Kingsport, Tennessee; Martha Kelly and her husband, Charles, of Oceanside, California; and Jack Dove and his wife, Vickie, of Abingdon, Virginia; his brothers-in-law, Rex Leonard and Michael “Bo” Vaughn; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members and many friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his siblings, Mary Faulkner, Linda Leonard, and Earl Dove; his brothers-in-law, John Faulkner and Warren Landon; and his sister-in-law, Linda Dove.

He leaves behind a family full of memories, daughters who know their way around a toolbox, and a long list of things they’ll now have to figure out how to fix themselves. He will be deeply missed, but there’s no doubt his stories, lessons, and silly sayings will live on.

A Celebration of Life for Gary is being planned for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Broomes Island Community Church in Broomes Island, Maryland, with a luncheon to follow.

A second gathering for family and friends will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026, in Piney Flats, Tennessee.

Please reach out to the family for additional details as arrangements are finalized.