Gary Arthur Somers

Gary Arthur Somers, beloved son of Gary and Gayle Somers, was born on May 5, 1985, in Beverly, MA, and passed away on May 19, 2018. He spent his first years living with his family in Essex, Ma, and in 1995 moved with them to Phoenix, AZ. He was a graduate of Paradise Valley High School and Arizona State University, where he earned a BA in Creative Writing. He worked extensively in digital marketing and the restaurant industry, but his first love was the creative arts. That being so, he lived two years in New York City, which fed his thirst for them. He returned to Phoenix in December, 2016, happy to be with family and friends again. He enjoyed playing fantasy football and was an easy opponent unless there was cold, hard cash on the line. He especially appreciated his many loving and supportive friends in the AA community. Gary had a sparkling intellect, an infectious laugh, and a tender heart. All those he leaves behind will miss his big hugs, his thoughtful phone calls, his willingness to show up when he was needed. His life, though brief, blessed us. He is survived by his parents, his sisters Geneva (Somers) Matthews and Leah (Somers) Stephens, his brothers-in-law Eric Matthews and Tyler Stephens, and his nieces Seraphina Rose and Beatrix Violet, and his nephew, Enzo Anthony Matthews, as well as his aunts, uncles, and cousins. A Funeral Mass will be offered for him on Friday, June 1, at 10:30 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 2312 Highland Ave., Phoenix. The Visitation will be on Thursday, May 31, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Whitney Murphy Funeral Home, 48th St and E. Indian School, with a Scripture service at 7:00 P.M. A reception will follow the Mass at the St. Thomas parish hall, with internment after that at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, 2033 N 48th St, Phoenix, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lighthouse Young Writers Workshop at lighthousewriters.org.