Alva Jay Gregory, son of Clyde Jay and Inez Luvena (Randall) Gregory was born October 21, 1963 at Vici, OK. and passed from this life May 1, 2019 at the age of 55. He grew up in the home of his loving parents with four brothers in the Balko, OK. community and attended grade school and high school at Balko. During his school years he was a fierce competitor in sports and received multiple awards in track and basketball. He also loved playing the trumpet in the school band. Following his high school graduation in 1982, he went to Seward County Community College at Liberal, KS in pursuit of a career in wildlife. Two years later he graduated with an Associate's Degree.
On June 15, 1985, in a cow pasture near Vici, Alva was united in marriage to the love of his life Sonja Sharlene Bellew. Sonja always said that from the moment they got together he always felt like home. The newlyweds established their first home in Balko, OK. Two years later, they moved to the Beaver River Wildlife Management Area where their home was blessed with a daughter, Brooke Rochelle. Five and a half months later they relocated to the Packsaddle Wildlife Management Area where their home was again blessed with a son, Brandon Jay. They resided at this location for fourteen years before moving to Vici, where he lived out his days.
Alva was employed by Beaver County District Number 3 for two years before beginning his career with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, where he completed over 31 years of service. He thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of his career in Wildlife. However, the highlight of Alva's career, was having the opportunity to help private landowners improve habitat. He was awarded Wildlife Technician of the year in 2007, Habitat Coordinator of the year in 2013 and the Oklahoma Chapter of the Wildlife Society's Oklahoma award for his outstanding contributions to wildlife management in 2018.
Alva was a devoted husband, son, brother, father and grandfather, lovingly known as Pop. In all of these aspects he was the embodiment of the scripture "…let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
Alva was baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn at Vici, on January 5, 1984 by Brother Jerry Hale. As a young man, Alva was called into the ministry. He took the labor very seriously, and God used him abundantly. He believed and lived "The greatest sermon a man will ever preach is his daily walk of life." He was ordained an elder on September 6, 2009 at Vici. This calling was of the utmost importance to him. Regardless of what may have been going on in his own life, when there was a need among the brethren, he was there.
His special interests included hunting, fishing, watching and playing sports, raising and training horses, working with cattle on his favorite horse, Chigger, and cutting down and milling cedar trees. He was also a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and on the Board of the Oklahoma Prescribed Burn Association and the president of the Vici Rodeo Club.
He is preceded in death by his father, Clyde Gregory, his grandparents, Glen and Beulah Gregory and Harvey and Irene Randall. His mother and father-in-law, Leallen and Thelma Bellew, and a sister-in-law, Vickie Pfister.
His memory is cherished by his wife, Sonja, of the home near Vici, OK. His children, daughter Brooke Lugard and husband Curtis of Vici, OK. and son, Brandon Gregory and wife Hannah of Beaver, OK., three grandchildren, Embry and Kamdyn Lugard, and Korah Gregory. His mother Inez Gregory of Vici, OK and four brothers and their wives, Lynn and Penny Gregory, Terry and Candace Gregory, Greg and Misty Gregory, all of Vici, OK. and Mickey and Crista Gregory of Mooreland, OK. Brothers-in-law Henry and Teresa Bellew of Montrose, CO and Gary Bellew of Cushing, OK. Sisters-in-law Linda and Gary McGehee of Delta, CO, Carlene and Denny Neely of Grand Junction, CO. Numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, and a host of friends and brethren.