Page created by: Brian Bessey

In Memoriam
Gary Bessey
1942-2021

Gary Bessey was born and raised in Tawas City, Michigan. He was married to his wife Donna for over 56 years. Gary and Donna had two children, Brian and Dawn. Not long after his retirement, Gary started showing signs of Parkinson's. As symptoms progressed, he elected to have Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery. Due to complications during surgery, the doctor was only able to complete stimulation to one side of the brain. Due to this, there were limited benefits to controlling his symptoms.

Gary spent the last 23 years of his life managing through his disease. He met each day with a great attitude, strength, and determination to overcome each challenge. Gary always had a smile on his face and did his best to keep some independence. He did not want Parkinson's to control every aspect of his life.

Michael J. Fox and his foundation's work gave Gary hope and inspired him.

The Bessey family appreciates your generous contribution to the Michael J. Fox organization. Through this foundation it is our goal that future Parkinson's patients will have hope and more options to treat, and hopefully someday cure, this debilitating disease.