We lost Gary Dixon Wednesday night. Regular readers of this column may remember a column from just a few weeks back in which I wrote about the Relay For Life.

That event went off Friday night and Saturday, but Gary Dixon wasn’t there.

He passed away Wednesday night. Gary had battled cancer for the past few years.

Gary was a fair-skinned man and he knew he was at risk for skin cancer. Even though he got regular checkups from the doctors hoping to catch the cancer early if it ever occurred, the dreaded disease still caught him.

Gary had become my friend over the past few years as we worked together on the East Wake Business Alliance. I got to meet his son, Matt, at a Job Fair at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh.

Gary’s daughter, Amanda, spent a day shadowing me at work. She wrote a story about walking for health that we published in this newspaper. She’s on the staff of the Cardinal Gibbons school newspaper.

Gary was very well regarded among his peers on the staff at East Wake High School.

When EWHS teacher Jack Lister approached Gary about establishing a scholarship in Gary’s name, Gary at first demurred. He later agreed, but he asked that the scholarship be given to a student who plans to attend a two-year school.

Those were Gary’s people. He understood that the top students would have access to money for college. The two-year students have far fewer opportunities.

Now, thanks to Gary, they have a better opportunity.

Gary’s passing had been expected for several weeks, but I have to admit there was a stark reality that set in when I got a call from East Wake principal Craig Baker on Thursday morning.

Craig’s voice was clipped. There just wasn’t much to say.

It’s all too much. Gary’s gone. What a loss.

If you’d like to support the scholarship established in Gary’s name, send your check to the East Wake Education Foundation at PO Box 1404 Wendell NC, 27591. Write Gary’s name in the memo line of your check.

It’s a simple gift. And I know Gary would be appreciative.