Chief Stoy Lee Geary

When I first met Stoy, I was volunteering to serve on the Rosine VFD. He was such a warm, non-judgemental, fair, and caring man. He took an interest in me, and as I became a trained and certified Firefighter, he became something of a second father to me . Stoy played a central role in my encounter with Christ, and it turned out he was also a lay preacher. When I would drop by the station, he would invariably be reading his Bible, and we would talk about God. He showed me how prayer and regular devotion helped to bring me into line with God's plans and presence. His testimony and witness moved me to greater Bible study, and the Word did the rest.

Stoy faced much local conflict as he built Rosine VFD into a functioning and essential service agency. There were many people in the area who were suspicious of his motives, and critical of his leadership, and caused him many trials and hardships, but he was always one of the first on the scene when one of his antagonists had a fire, or a wreck, or some other emergency. He was working just such a fire when he passed away. No one on the Department worked more tirelessly or more diligently in service to the community.

Stoy is now with the Lord he loved so intimately in this world. I shall never forget him, nor be the same for having known him.