In Memoriam: COS alumnus Gary Dye, philanthropist, longtime Arlington veterinarian

Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 • Greg Pederson :

Clayton “Gary” Dye, D.V.M., a College of Science alumnus and longtime Arlington veterinarian, passed away on November 16, 2021 at his home in Arlington. He was 79.

Dye earned a B.S. in Microbiology from The University of Texas at Arlington, then named Arlington State College, in 1966.

He remained involved with UTA and the College of Science over the years. He served as a member of the College of Science Advisory Council in 2011-12 and served on the planning committee of the College’s 50th anniversary in 2015. He and his wife created the Anne and Gary Dye Endowed Professorship of Innovative Biosciences, which was awarded to Todd Castoe, UTA professor of biology, in 2017.

He was born on August 11, 1942 in Longview to Clayton Guy and Syblene Martha Dye. He and his family lived in several East Texas towns and in Bridgeport before moving to Lindsay, Oklahoma, where he graduated from Lindsay High School in 1960. He attended Oklahoma State University for two years and then transferred to Arlington State College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.

He went on to Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated with a Degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1969. He returned to Arlington and began practicing at Cooper Street Animal Clinic. He established Arlington North Animal Clinic in 1971 where he practiced until his retirement in 1996 due to a hemorrhagic stroke.

Dye continued to own and operate his clinic until the end and this year it celebrates 50 years in business before its pending closure next month.

He enjoyed giving back to his community through service and a variety of philanthropy efforts. He funded a family room at the Arlington Life Shelter and was honored as Philanthropist of the Year by UTA in 2016 and by Christ's Haven for Children in 2019.

He was a past president of the Tarrant County Veterinary Medical Association, a Mark Francis Fellow at Texas A&M, a life member of Tarrant County Veterinary Medical Association and Texas Veterinary Medical Association, a former board member of the Morris Animal Foundation, and former director of Tarrant County Veterinary Research Corporation. 

Dye was a member of the Downtown Arlington Rotary Club for 42 years, conducted orientations for new members, was a Paul Harris Fellow, and was chosen as the Distinguished Rotarian of the Year for 2007-08. He received the Rotary Wheelchair Foundation Hope, Mobility, and Freedom Award in 2012. He was a member of North Davis Church of Christ where he was a deacon, served as facilities use coordinator, and was a long-time volunteer with the Hearts & Hands ministry.

Dye was preceded in death by his parents, Clayton Guy and Syblene Martha (Womble) Dye, and brother, Larry Dye.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth Anne Thompson Dye; son, Allen Dye and wife, Michelle; daughter, Emily Cambron and husband, Caine; sister, Rita Thompson and husband, Bob; six grandchildren, Lola, Sophia, and Scarlett Dye and Piper, Gray and Canon Cambron; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Private burial was held at Moore Memorial Gardens on November 22. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 30 at Woodland West Church of Christ, 3101 W. Park Row, Arlington, TX.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Christ’s Haven for Children, 4200 Keller Haslet Rd., Keller, TX 76244.

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