Community’s loss felt by many
Family, friends farewell Gary McKelvie
GARY WILLIAM ALFRED MCKELVIE August 20, 1951-July 11, 2022
Local business owner Gary McKelvie, a man with a big personality and a huge heart for his community, lost his four-year battle with prostate cancer earlier this month, at the age of 70.
Gary was farewelled with a laughter and memory filled service at the Salvation Army Centre, followed by a last “shout” at his favourite watering hole — the Levin Club.
Born in Levin in 1951, Gary attended Levin School and Horowhenua College, excelling in hockey and tennis, then got himself an apprenticeship as a mechanic at Wrightcars Levin at age 15.
This kicked off Gary’s 55-year petrolhead addiction, which saw him start to race stock cars at speedway in the 1970s, moving on to saloon cars and then muscle cars.
In the early 1980s Gary moved over to a sales role at Wrightcars, and, as daughter Kelly said, “selling cars and doing deals was his happy place”.
Marrying wife Christine in 1982, the couple went on to have two children, Troy born in 1984 and Kelly in 1986.
In 1991 Gary purchased Wrightcars (now known as Horowhenua Motor Company), in partnership with two other local men, Mike Hurley and Carey Gapper, then in 2008 Gary and wife Chris took over the business.
Being a man of high work ethics, Gary worked six days a week his whole career, even going back into the office after his chemo treatment in the early days of his cancer battle.
Although Gary was a hard taskmaster, expecting staff to work to the same standards as himself, wife Chris said the majority of employees were long-term and all very loyal to the business.
“They were all hugely supportive [during Gary’s battle], keeping everything running smoothly,” said Chris, “they’re basically family and treat the business like it’s theirs too.”
Gary chose to keep his fight with cancer fairly private, only sharing that information with close family until the later stages, and continued to live his big life — golfing, racing cars and catching up with friends for a bevy or two.
Life-long friends were a big part of Gary’s world, many having been around for 35-40 years, with a number of them sharing memories at the funeral service — rugby games, tennis tournaments, car racing and good sessions at the Levin Club being a common feature.
Giving back to the community was also very important to Gary — Horowhenua Ka¯piti Rugby Union CEO, Corey Kennett, shared how HMC had been a major sponsor of the union for more than 20 years.
“He was what we call a 30 second sponsor . . . it would only take a 30 second phone call to Gary for him to say ‘yup — we’re on’,” said Corey.
According to Corey, Gary was a fixture at home games, regularly accompanied by his “Last of the Summer Wine” rogues gallery of mates.
“Gary epitomised what it meant to be a community man . . . he had a genuine interest in supporting local organisations . . . didn’t do that for monetary reward or recognition [but because] he was one of life’s good buggers“, said Corey.
During the service, the family spoke of Gary’s pride in his gardens at home — taking them from bare paddocks to a level that meant two family weddings were held on the grounds.
Gary’s passion for car racing was
at the forefront of the day as well, with his muscle car parked out the front of the Salvation Army Centre and his coffin painted the same burnt orange, with his race number emblazoned on the front. 62 was the first number issued to Gary when he started racing stock cars back in the day.
Despite Gary’s determination to beat his illness, two weeks after celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary with Chris, and four years to the date after his initial diagnosis, Gary passed peacefully, surrounded by his family.