Gregory Clifton Meares

Gregory Clifton Meares, 54, of Beaufort (formerly of Celina, TX) died, Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at Jack D. Weiler Hospital, Bronx, New York.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Ann Street United Methodist Church, 417 Ann Street, Beaufort, NC.

Greg graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ in 1983. Greg was one of the best all-time shut-down defenders in soccer and was feared by his opponents for his dominant, hard tackling style. As Team Captain of his high school team, they captured 3 State Sectional and Iron Hills titles, and Essex County Championship. In 1982, Greg won the Gordon Richard Award as Team MVP, as well as the Coggin Award. He earned All County, All Conference, and All State recognition and was named to the All-America team as one of the top defenders in New Jersey. After high school, he attended Penn State University in State College, PA on a soccer scholarship where he earned a BA degree in Political Science and Government.  He recently achieved his certification in Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Villanova University.

Greg enjoyed learning new things and taught himself how to build and run start-up companies, website design, social media marketing, video blogging, and cool technologies like drones.

Professionally, Greg was a passionate leader, consultant, and entrepreneur with an outstanding work ethic who helped many people and companies create and achieve their strategic service, sales, financial, and career development goals.

No matter who he worked with, he was trusted and respected for his candor, knowledge, and desire to achieve results.  He was a consummate traveler who often worked in different countries, always enjoying local cultures, local foods, and local landscapes.

His desire to travel was huge and he had friends from all over the world.

Greg was born on June 18, 1964 at Beale Air Force Base, Marysville, California and is survived by his father, Elbert C. Meares and wife Joan of  Colts Neck, NJ; mother,  Fran Pigott Meares Harding of Beaufort; daughters, Kylee Meares and Kristen Nichols of Celina, TX; sister, Leisha Ayres and husband Jay of New Jersey; brother, Parker Meares of New York; nephews, Nicholas Dyben and Jeffrey Dyben, both of New Jersey; aunts, Jeanne Hintz and husband Bob of Virginia and Lynn Crisp and husband Doug of North Carolina; uncle, James Meares and wife Kathleen of Louisiana; his Beaufort cousins, Edith Styron and husband Jeff and Lee Crumbacker and wife Kathie; numerous cousins from around the county; and the “perfect dog”, Diesel.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Herbert Tasman and Edith Pigott and Bert and Margaret Meares.

He transitioned while in New York, traveling and doing the work he loved the most.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to his daughter, Kylee S. Meares (memo College Fund), PO Box 500, Beaufort, NC 28516; or Disaster Relief c/o Ann Street United Methodist Church, 417 Ann Street, Beaufort, NC 28516.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory in Morehead City, NC.