James Custer “Jim” Gregory, III, 79, passed away May 14, 2024, in Great Bend, Kan. He was born Dec. 6, 1944, to James, Jr., and Carol Lee (Arney) Gregory in Bethany, Mo.

During his childhood, Jim was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, and loved to be around his dad and his airplane. After graduation from Shawnee Mission North High School in 1962, he attended junior college in Kansas City, Kan., and worked at the Municipal Airport part time in Kansas City, Mo.

When the Vietnam War escalated, he enlisted in the United States Air Force a week after he married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Barbara Gray, in July 1966. After returning stateside from Vietnam, he was stationed in Sacramento, Calif., and Cheyenne, Wyo. After his discharge, Jim and Barbara settled in the Kansas City area, where he worked for his father at American Industrial Tool Company.

Jim moved to the Great Bend area in the early 1990’s, where he was part owner with Chuck Carpenter of RWI. He was a founding Charter Member of the Kansas Sidewinders Motorcycle Club, and served on various executive committees, sharing with his loved ones the activities and rides that he would participate in. Jim loved his Harley Davidsons and going to Sturgis every year with members of the club, plus to meet up with his brother, Terry.

Survivors include brother, Terry (Debra) Gregory; sister, Vicki (Joe) Kerkvliet; nieces and nephews; and all of his brothers - both active and retired - from the Kansas Sidewinders Club. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He is preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Barbara Gregory; parents, James Jr. and Carol Gregory; paternal grandparents, James Sr. and Elsie Gregory; and maternal grandparents, Ray and Lola Arney.

Visitation will take place from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 24, 2024, presided by Chuck Carpenter; with family receiving guests prior from 9 a.m. to 9:50 a.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home. Interment service will take place 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 31, 2024, at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota, with military honors presented. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been designated to the Kansas Sidewinders Benevolent Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Rd. 

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, May 21, 2024