Daughter: Armstrong a man of many talents
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
Gary “The Shoe Shine Guy” Armstrong will be memorialized Sunday at the Tennessee Baptist Convention. A celebration of his life will be held between 4 and 7 p.m.

Armstrong, who for almost a decade shined thousands of shoes and gave away thousands more lollipops to Maryland Farms YMCA members, suffered a fatal heart attack in his apartment Aug. 14, and was found later in the weekend by an apartment maintenance worker after discovering his car had not moved. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Enola Armstrong, and brothers Donny, Eddie and Jimmy Armstrong.

Survivors are his daughter Alison Armstrong Hillman (Jason Hillman) of Oakfield, Tenn.; his father, Reginald "Reg" Armstrong of Madisonville, Ky., numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews as well as countless loving friends he considered family. 

Following a successful career as a car salesman, Mr. Armstrong’s physician told him to eliminate unnecessary stress, daughter Alison said, so he started his “traveling” shoe shine gig in 1999. “Being the Shoe Shine Guy got him featured in multiple publications including the Tennessean and on Paul Harvey,” Hillman said.

Gary Armstrong, in his Titans Clown get-up, mugs for the camera with friends at a Titans game. His daughter Alison calls him 'one of the biggest Titans' fans I have ever met.'

“I can't thank Bob Knestrick, Chaplain Larry Yarborough, the staff and members of the Maryland Farms YMCA enough.  Dad's friend Debbie Howard has been a saint.  Debbie was truly like a sister to him, and I couldn't have gotten through this past week without her.  That has to be said.  Debbie was listed as "sis" in his phone, so the police called her.  She was the one to call me to break the news” Hillman shared.

“Very few people know exactly how talented my dad was.  He was a brilliant writer.  He could also sing, play piano, and was a true thespian.  And man did he love to dance.  Especially swing.  Plus, he was hilarious.  And his laugh was just infectious.  He also enjoyed ‘clowning’ for kids' parties, etc.

“Dad was one of the biggest Titans' fans I have ever met, and had many ‘fan’ pictures in his Titans clown get-up.  He also loved the UT Vols and St. Louis Cardinals.”

Memorial donations can be made by contacting the Maryland Farms YMCA for details. In lieu of flowers for the memorial service, Hillman shared, “My dad LOVED balloons.”

The Tennessee Baptist Convention is located at the corner of Franklin Road and Maryland Way in Brentwood.