A family of choice is a group of people who are in your life to empower you. They feed your self-esteem instead of depleting it. They are people who are there for you during the tough times and also during the celebrations in your life.
Gregg Cecil’s family of choice would like to share with you his life.
Gregg was a son. Greg was born on Feb. 12, 1957, to Laymond Bud Cecil (Deceased) and Mary Eleanor Vaught Cecil (Deceased), of Bristow.
Gregg was a grandson to Arthur and Violet Cecil (Deceased).
Gregg was a brother to Allen Cecil (Beloved Sister-in-Law Ellen Kay Jones Cecil-Deceased); (Tricia)
Gregg was a nephew to Raymond and Evelyn Cecil (Deceased).
Gregg was a cousin to: Janet Kaye Cecil Ethridge (Deceased) ( Joe) (Deceased), daughter Melissa Ethridge-Jack ( Jim); daughter Rebecca Lee Ethridge; Rayma Lea Cecil Montgomery (Glen)
Daughter Tara Lea Montgomery Mattox ( Josh)
Tara’s Children: Cooper, Cason, Whitlea
Daughter Liz Montgomery Espolt (Aaron)
Liz’s Children: Whitlea
And grandparents and many cousins on the Vaught side of Gregg’s family.
Gregg was an Uncle to:
Jill Cecil Snyder (Brent); Jill’s Daughter Hayden (Chris Butler), Sarah Cecil Gray ( Jason), Sarah’s children: James andHenry, Molly Cecil Peterson (Steve),M olly’s children: Pete and Cal.
Gregg spent his formative educational years in the Bristow Public School System. Gregg was gifted musically. He played piano and sax and became the Drum Major of the Bristow Pirate Band in high school. As the Drum Major, many a young girl and some of the women in Gregg’s family swooned over how handsome and regal he looked in his uniform. He carried himself with confidence and style. Gregg was responsible for providing precise directional commands to the band.
As a Senior at Bristow High School, Gregg was a Senior Big Wheel for being Best Natured, NFL Vice-President, President of the Student Association and a member of the Student Council. Gregg graduated from Bristow High School in 1975. After high school, Gregg attended Oklahoma University, in Norman. While at OU, Gregg served on the OU President’s Leadership Class.
Gregg worked with his Uncle Raymond Cecil at the Red Bird Boot and Shoe Repair shop in Bristow; while living in California, Gregg was a licensed agent for USAA where he was a home and automobile specialist. His final employment venture was in Houston, TX for the NRG Stadium.
Around 1980, Gregg married Linda Gaye Cantrell. Sadly, the marriage was dissolved but Linda and Gregg having great affection for one another maintained a friendship until her violent murder on February 2, 2005.
Gregg moved on an was true to himself. He met Dave and began a fulfilling 15.5 year relationship with him. Dave remembers that Gregg helped him with honesty, integrity, honor, love, and being true to one’s self while protecting from intolerance.
Gregg and Dave formed a small business together. They remodeled houses. Gregg had a way of conceiving and designing that was beautiful. Gregg would design, and Dave would engineer and build. Gregg would do the finish work and make it pretty. Personally, Dave and Gregg traveled the USA, had a lot of good times, and argued very little. Yet, as with all relationships, people grow and their wants and desires change. Gregg and Dave’s relationship would not survive but the love and friendship always remained until his death.
Dave lives with the memories that when he was young Gregg came into his life and saved him from a lot of terrible things that could have been. Dave believes he would not be where he is today in life without Gregg’s help. Gregg was a good person who loved much. Gregg remained honest, loving, giving, and honorable all the days I knew him.
Friends Tom and Ray remember the fun they had with Gregg discovering the state of California. The three bonded over their love of music. In the 80’s and 90’s, the three would go to clubs and listen to music for hours.
Tom required brain surgery. Gregg stepped in and helped to take care of Tom. When Ray had his leg amputated Gregg would drive him to his physician appointments. He was a caregiver by nature. Gregg was a one of a kind good guy. Gregg was genuinely interested in you and your life. Gregg was kind, caring, and just a good friend.
Brian remembers that music was a big influence in Gregg’s life and brought him immense joy. Gregg exposed Brian to great music and artists.
There is Gregg’s cousin Missy. Missy and Gregg had a close bond with one another. Their bond started in childhood. They truly practiced and believed in loving and accepting each other unconditionally. Gregg understood her world and she understood his world. He provided her with great advice when she was troubled. She kept his private secrets confidential and told no one as he did hers. She held him in high esteem and she felt the love in his heart. Both had a depraved sense of humor that only the two of them understood. Both were musicians and shared their great love of music. They both enjoyed cats and had many conversations about his mother’s kittens and tricks she taught them to perform. They had agreed to grow old together and take care of one another. Missy believed Gregg lived his life as authentically as possible or as others would let him. Gregg was her hero, her person, like Christina Yang to Meridith Grey in Grey’s Anatomy. Missy no longer has her person, her hero. She misses their lengthy phone conversations about life, his voice, his humor, his laughter. Gregg was the brother she never had. Missy’s heart is very broken. Gregg always called her “His Missy.”
Many years ago, Gregg received a diagnosis with a prognosis of 2 years to live but outlived his prognosis. In the end, Gregg was depressed and overwhelmed by all of his medical conditions. He succumbed to Stage 4 Lung Cancer that had moved to his brain.
Gregg had chosen to be admitted to Omega House Hospice in Houston, TX where he resided. Omega House was originally an AIDS Hospice back in the 90’s, yet with the invention of varying AIDS medications and patients living longer healthier lives, the hospice began to have a decrease in AIDS patients. This same hospice still saw a need and became a LGBTQ hospice for their community.
On May 14, Dave spoke with Gregg. Also, on this day, Missy spoke with Gregg, it would be everyone’s final conversation. Even though Gregg’s speech was garbled, he clearly spoke I love you Missy three times to her. Missy gave Gregg permission to let go and fly high. Exactly 24 hours later on May 15, 2021, Gregg, age 64, passed away. Gregg’s family of choice is still grieving. We miss him and the contributions he made to each of our lives. He was a precious, lovely, tender man that will never be forgotten.
If you have a Gregg story or if Gregg influenced your life please tell your story. By tell your story we keep his memory alive and we never forget his imprint on our hear and our lives.
His family of choice asks that donations be made in Gregg’s memory to one of the following:
Omega House, 602 Branard Street, Houston, Texas 77006;
Dennis R. Neil Equality Center, 621 East 4th Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120
Houston SPCA, 7007 Old Katy Road, Houston, Texas 77024-2109
Humane Society of Tulsa, 6232 East 60th Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135
Houston Humane Society, 14700 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas 77053-4030
Bristow High School, Highway 16 and Ash, Bristow, Oklahoma 74010 attn: Music Department in Memory of Gregg Cecil.