Obituary of Gary Allen Ewell

Of Columbiaville, age 61, died Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at Hurley Medical Center. The funeral service will take place 12:00pm, Tuesday, December 4, 2012, at the Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services in Mt. Morris. Pastor Tedd Culver will officiate with burial to follow at Great Lakes National Cemetery. Gary's family will be present at the funeral home on Sunday from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Monday from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm, Tuesday from 10:00 am until time of service at 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers please consider memorial contributions to the family. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Gary was born January 7, 1951, in Flint, Michigan. He and Lynda Guadagno were united in marriage August 26, 1978, in California. He attended Beecher High School. Gary loved spending time with his family and friends and weightlifting. Gary Ewell is an award winning producer, director, and photojournalist who has devoted his life and career to mid-Michigan. He joined WFUM-PBS Flint in 1984 after proudly serving in the Untied States Marine Corps during the Vietnam. By 1986, he received his first EMMY nomination for Vietnam documentary "Welcome Home," which he wrote and co-produced. In 1992, he graduated from Mott Community College with degrees in general studies and photography. That same year, he received the Photographer of the Year award from the college. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Michigan-Flint in natural resource planning in 2000. In 1987, Ewell became the head of On Air Promotions at WFUM and began training students in master control, videography, editing and various production techniques. His former students work throughout the country in at notable television stations. He has worked with and trained over 100 students in 15 years guaranteeing students the best training they could get. His awards include multiple Michigan Association of Broadcasters Awards for short documentary, two Associated Press awards for reporting, and eight EMMY nominations and four EMMY wins for his writing. He has also won a National Writing Award from the Outdoor Writers Association of America for Broadcast Writing of the "Great Lakes Outdoors Special." His work also includes photojournalism for WEYI and WJRT in Flint. Left to cherish his memory wife of 34 years, Lynda; two children; Jill and husband, Bruce Barnett; Patrick; three grandchildren; Carlie, Jack and Summer Barnett; two siblings; Larry and Nancy Ewell, Gerry Ann Wagner; and many other family members and friends. Gary was preceded in death by his grandparents, mother, Mary Ewell, several aunts and uncles.