Gary McArrell.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Former Society to Advance Opticianry (SAO) president and founding member, Gary McArrell, passed away on Monday, May 25 after losing his battle with cancer. Memorial services will held today.

McArrell, who worked at Hour Glass in Tallahassee, Fla. since 2006 was not only a founding member of SAO, but also an officer from 2010 until the present. He served as president of the SAO from 2013 to 2014 and was named president emeritus in April 2015.

Born Dec. 31, 1969, he was an American Board of Opticianry master optician, National Contact Lens Examiners certified contact lens fitter, Florida Licensed Dispensing optician and an approved speaker by the ABO/NCLE. He authored an ABO certification NOCE exam prep e-book, “Pass the ABO Exam – Practice exams, formulas, and test taking tips…” in addition to helping many people prep to take the ABO examination.

In addition, he was also a member of the Society to Advance Opticianry, the Opticians Association of America, Professional Opticians of Florida and a fellow of the National Academy of Opticianry.
 
A memorial service for McArrell took place on Friday, May 29 at the John Wesley United Methodist Church on Old St. Augustine Road, Tallahassee, Fla. Additional services will take place on Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. at South Brookley United Methodist Church located at 3755 Dauphlin Island Parkway, Mobile, Ala.

Prior to the service, there will be a time of visitation from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make memorial contributions to South Brookely UMC, P.O. Box 50067, Mobile, AL 36605.