Deacon Richard (Dick) Narey, a pioneering deacon in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, died July 30. He was 81.

Deacon Narey was born in Minneapolis in 1924 and graduated from the University of Portland in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. A World War II veteran, he served in the U.S. Army, and he was employed by Weyerhaeuser Lumber Co. for 30 years.

In 1978, Deacon Narey and three other men became only the second class of permanent deacons ordained in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Following his ordination, Deacon Narey served at Holy Cross Church in Atlanta. In 1986, Deacon Narey began assisting his fellow classmate Deacon Walt Bedard with the Lay Ministry/Diaconate Formation Program. In 1987 he was appointed director of the program. In October 1987 he was appointed a deacon at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, and in 1990, he resigned as director of the Lay Ministry/Diaconate Formation Program to devote his full-time service to the Cathedral. He retired from active ministry in 1999 at the age of 75.

Deacon Narey celebrated his silver jubilee with his brother deacons at Holy Cross Church in 2003. At the event, fellow Deacon Whitney Robichaux called Deacon Bedard and Deacon Narey, both of whom worked in the Cursillo movement, “inspiration(s) to many men who later became deacons.”

He was a life-long learner and earned a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Loyola University in New Orleans, La., in 1988. He had a passion for golf and travel and was an avid sports and Notre Dame fan.

Deacon Narey is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marjorie, six children and their spouses, 18 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, as well as two sisters and a brother.

His funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church. He was laid to rest at Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Tucker.