Gregory Don Reyna was prematurely born on the Saturday before Mother's Day, in May 1962, at Children's Hospital in Dallas, TX-to Arnita and Mike Reyna, Jr. .  Greg was their third child, the third son, by following Steven-the eldest, and their second son, Larry.  The Reyna family would be later completed with the addition of the final child and daughter, Sherrie.

          The Reynas would reside in multiple homes around Dallas, and over time the kids would eventually have spent time in the Los Angeles, California school system, and by 1974 the Reyna family would have also lived in Bellingham, Washington, too. But, Texas was where the rest of their families were, and where they would return.

          This meant that Greg  graduated from Lakeview Centennial High School, here in Dallas, TX, part of the class of 1980.   By 1982, he had been enrolled and studied Illustration at the Art Institude of Dallas.  There, Greg had befriended a group of his classmates, and also was blessed to meet one of his earliest, and dearest of friends, Scottie Underwood.

          During the early 1980's Greg and his pals helped to establish the GLA: Gay Lesbian Alliance, for providing youth centered activities which offered group recreation and wholeseome comraderie outside of the bars and nightclubs.  Especially considered for those underage (even those who were of legal drinking age) for anyone that wanted plain fun, friendships, spending time in healthy sporting activities, all to foster an improved sense of community, increasing self-esteem, and positive self-attitudes.  Greg and his friends also made time to participate in political action in socially advancing Human Rights at the Texas Legislature, down in Austin, TX through public protest marches regarding the then, ongoing HIV & AIDS crisis...

         By 1983, Greg had determinded that the issues around further funding for his education was a major hardship. This factor lead him to a crucial moment, a crossroads in his life:  Should he continue at the Art Institute with accruing evermore debt, all in order to secure a graphic design position with a marketing and advertising firm, to only provide art as instructed, without personal freedoms OR follow his other life long passion being, canines?

         Obviously, we all know how lucky we are that Greg had chosen the latter!   He then moved to Houston to pursue an apprenticeship with an established breeder (and a somewhat infamous) handler of French Poodles- Mr. Bobby Peebles.  Greg would eventually further his handling and grooming apprenticeships, by 1991, as he had traveled to California to work with the dynamic duo of Bill and Taffe McFadden.

        There in California, Greg met a fellow apprentice with the McFaddens, Gabriel Rangel.  And these two Mexican decendants would become lifelong friends (Gabriel exposing Greg to authenic Japanese cuisine and sushi-for Greg's first taste of hamachi kama: grilled yellowtail tuna neck/ collar meat) and the burgeoning enjoyment of traversing across America. Both men worked along side Taffe, perfecting their crafts of expert handstripping, and learning the proper grooms of so many purebred dog breeds.  He also befriended the photographer, Gay Glazbrook, who also worked along side James Taylor, who were both then employed at the famous Kennel Review publication.

           In 1996, Greg's best friend, Scottie Underwood,  finally succumbed to AIDS in Boston, MA. Decades later, in 2022, with the passing of his friend, Anthony Scott, Greg had become the final person from their original group of their college -days friends, still alive... This reality delivered Greg a heavy burden of survivor's guilt.  This spectre clung to his mind, as he had been to what surely must have felt like endless funerals in his youth...Yet somehow, God had deeply blessed him with remaining healthy beyond any of his early adulthood friends, and his own original expections... Being mostly a non-drinker and strict non-smoker played a part in this...

          Greg (and his boyfriend at the time, Loran Morgan) had opened his first, small grooming shop in Allen, TX.  It was to be short lived, much like his attempt at running his own mobile pet grooming- only foiled by the irregularities in customers' scheduling and the large overhead.   Later, being freshly single, Greg had moved back into downtown Dallas, into the Oakcliff neighborhood.  Here he found his space directly in the Bishop Arts district-in a 450 sq foot shop beside the Hunky's building, without even a bather on his staff, where he started Bishop Arts Dog Grooming in 2000.  The only quality groomer in that zip code!   Bishop Arts Dog Grooming would remain successfully open for a total of 22 years, and need to be moved to three different shops, each time moving further west, down West Davis street as the area was being gentrified, causing the retail rental costs to always skyrocket...

          Greg also had been offered a Judge's position with participating on a reality television show based on dog grooming, which Greg had to respectfully decline, due to the lack of sufficient payment that would compensate his time away from his own bustling shop!  And the so-called "free and valuable exposure" the producers offered him, was unnecessary since Greg never needed to advertise, due to his meticulously trained eye,  inborn grooming talent, and his natural affinity for our four legged friends-all kept his business phone ringing everyday, to the point of having to turn people away...

      Greg even worked through the COVID pandemic, as Dallas County did not close pet grooming shops, since they were considered essential to public health, and actually instead had an overflowing boon, from the adjacent Tarrant County, in his already full clientelle !  Another blessing God bestowed upon Greg for his kindnesses and continued willingness to grant chances to those in need, by his offering those a fresh start with a position at his shop over the years... His longest business as well as his professional dog showing,  Bishop Arts Dog Grooming had been a local success with being voted Best Local Pet Groomer multiple times in the local publications, and was, up until to his failing health from the renal clear cell cancer.  Eventually, closing only due to losing so much of his former strength and reluctantly going onto disability benefits by April 2022. 

        Gregory was a consumate dog groomer and had completed a VHS instructional recording of how to properly Show Groom an American Collie, which was held in high regard and brought him fame amongst the American Collie community.  Yet it was never reformated onto DVD or into digital recordings.  His skill had garnered tons of requests over the years for personal instruction and classes to teach new pet groomers and individual owners (to be able to groom their own dogs) which he humbly had to deny.  In fact, Greg was planning on becoming a professionally, officially licensed AKC Judge for dog shows, and would then be planning to offer instructional classes to aspiring groomers and interested owners, as part of his upcoming retirement.  His tenure and decades of experience in the ever-shrinking art of handstripping in America, was phenomenal-and he taught Dennis everything from his wise tutilege...

      Greg's successes in the professional dog fancy, with handling- being repeatedly awarded by AKC as a Breeder of Merit, and grooming granted him much recognition and appreciation from the Collie Club of America, the Giant Schnauzer Club of America , and the Bouvier de Flandres Club of America.  Among his fellow professional handlers, Greg had friends and even smiles from strangers alike, at the dog shows from all across the country.  Greg also won National Specialties within other breeds outside of three above, such as the Bichon Frises, French Poodles, and more...

     Greg's constant drive, dedication, and passion earned him admiration, respect, and appreciation of his many contributions to the Purebred Dog Fancy and Professional Dog Show world, and from the American Kennel Club.  One such award was his being nominated, and unanimously approved by vote of the Giant Schnauzer Club of America as being titled in the 2023 Honorary AKC Sportmanship Award, only the second time in its club's history!

      All of those accolades and accomplishments could have gone to his head, possibly over inflating his ego, feeling cocky, over confident, or even producing some sort of diva complex- but not for Greg Reyna.  By late March 2012, after his first date with Dennis, Greg remained a modest and unassuming person.  

      Greg would stay unaware of just how many others he had positively affected, clueless as to how many other handlers and owner-handlers he had helped, and surprised how people would often recognize him, never aware of how newer handlers and assistants would be shocked to see the other full time, Nationally well-known handlers greet Greg with full grins and warm hugs. Greg still would be impressed by his amount of fame, as he just didn't realize how widely he was known as "Mr. Giant Schnauzer" after all his years;  It was always still an oddity for him!

       Greg's ability to remain positive and laser focused on his showtrims and grooming handiwork was a magical gift!  To switch from his usual adult ADD into a tight tunnel vision, and turn out these statue-esque creatures on his table-was always miraculous to personally witness!

        Many a time, Dennis would be forced to intercede and drag him away from his project after 4, or 5 hours of continual preening and perfecting.  He would have to make Greg take a break to eat, to rehydrate, and let his hands, arms, and shoulders rest.  Like a maestro, Greg was lost in his art, "being in the zone" sculpting,  revealing, and showcasing each dogs' virtues.  Greg was an eternally giving, sweet, and deeply caring man, slow to anger, and quick to move on from conflict-whom Dennis made sure to have him remember to also care for himself, just as much as Greg had cared for others.  All reasons why Dennis fell in love with such a wonderous guy...

      Always a fan of the county/ state fairs and Stock Shows, Greg's youth in animal husbandry-which included turtles, rabbits, cats, dogs, and even horses, all added to his talent with the furry ones. He received his first ever Collie at age eleven, but unfortunately was sickly and short-lived...

      Besides the dog fancy (which started in Greg ever since he begged his parents for years for a Collie after being inspired by all the Disney dog films-before any Lassie appeared on the screen) he, his big brother, Steven, and little sister, Sherrie, were active participants in the Mesquite Rodeo!

      These Reyna kids particpated in rescue runs, square dancing, barrel runs, even a small stint in bull riding!             Greg had sweated and suffered having cleaned horse stalls all Texas summer (and by having his mom chipping in on) to get a horse. One that its original female owner had dubbed a Traitor, which stuck as its name-since this horse was openly unfond of women.  Sadly, over time, despite his love for this wonderful equine which allowed Greg to ride without saddle, and even to swim with him on his back! -Greg had developed a severe allergy to horses, adding in another step in how God saw to having Greg make his way closer towards his destiny with the Dog Fancy...

      And yet, Greg did eventually find and buy his own Collie from the classifieds. Greg even trained it to perform in Obedience Trials, since it wasn't the nicest looking or built well enough for Confirmation.  Being mentored by Larry Willeford and the late Grace Kosub in the Collie Club of America, kept him trucking along.  And with the blazing Texas summers, Collies would always drop coat-(lose their hair), meaning Greg needed another breed that kept coat year round, to continue competitively showing.  And his most interesting choices were between two breeds:  Bouviers des Flandres and Giant Schnauzers.

        Again, God's providence came into play, with his brother, Steven, almost hitting a Giant Schnauzer with his car, in the middle of a rainy night.  Steven took the lost, wet dog to Greg.  He consulted some dog magazines and located a Giant breeder who lived amazingly nearby, in Farmers Branch, where Greg would meet his long time mentor, co-breeder, confidant and friend,  Ms. Judi Boston, of Sonnenschein Kennel Giant Schnauzers.  Decades later, The Giant Schnauzer Club of America would honor both, Greg and Judi, for lifetime achievements!

Greg was a peaceful man, who never sought confrontation, always doing his best to let stressors go, "like water off a duck's back"-which Dennis would eventually gift him a custom grooming apron with this colloquialism on it...

       At the end of the 2021 Texas Dog Show circuit, which runs through every week during the month of July, Greg had been suffering from what he thought was simply intensifying allergies from the unseasonal rain.                   Friday morning of the Houston NRG World Series of Dog Shows, he was feeling weak and was wanting to stay in bed longer that morning.  He had instructed his partner, Dennis, to go ahead to the showsite on his own.  Dennis refused to leave before making sure Greg was actually going to be okay... And convinced him to take a shower, before departing, to help clear out his breathing.  This was ineffective and instead, Dennis got him dressed and took him to an urgent care facility since his breathing was over-labored and worsened from the steamy bathroom.  Finally in the middle of Friday morning rush hour, in downtown Houston, Greg made it to Houston Methodist Hospital. There the ER entrance was closed due to construction, and being in the hightop Nissan van, there wasn't any parking garages available to them. In all the panic, adrenaline, and fear, they had little choice but to just let suffering Greg out, on the nearest corner.  Fully letting go into God's hands, and their faith in their prayers, to see him to wherever the blockade would lead him inside.  Blessed as Greg was, a distracted security guard noticed him shuffling in from the hike, barely breathing Greg managed to whisper, "Asthma attack..." to the disinterested guard.  Here during this interaction, Greg was saved and escorted by a wonderfully attentive (male) nurse to the actual Emergency Room.  There Greg was sequestered away from the massive influx of COVID patients. Greg had all his tests coming back negative about any respiratory viruses, but with the shocking diagnosis of cardiac atrial fibrillation from the fluid on his lungs, brought on by being in late Stage 4 Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma, with a timeline of 3-6 months to live!

      Due to only being 59 years old, he was unqualified for Medicare status and was denied any further extensive cancer treatments, or surgery there while in Houston Methodist- even though two surgeon's had met with him with their plan to remove the entire left kidney and either use cryo- and radiation on the other small tumor on his right kidney.   Also, Greg being a self-employed, small business owner with a pre-existing conditon, had not had any of the more established and prominent health coverage insurances available to Tarrant County, and at the time was only insured by a newer, less excepted, and despairingly, somewhat unpopular and mostly unaccepted health insurance provider... 

        Disappointed, dejected, and feeling afraid, without any direct treatment for his newly discovered tumors, Greg had stabilized there in two weeks enough to be discharged to return to the DFW metroplex to seek further treament locally.  Prior to this Greg worked full time, and went to the gym 3-4 days a week (when not at a dog show, but if only have one or two dogs would exercise in the hotel fitness center.)

          He adjusted his diet and stopped his usual sweet tooth by removing processed sugars, upon the urging of Dennis.  He increased his nutritional intake with a regimen of supplements, and paid to be granted access to the CURT (Compassionate Use Registration of Texas) to legally have access to medical cannabis to assist with his pain, nausea, appetite, and mental-emotional issues.  Greg's strong will, practised positivity, faith, and focus on living his best life to the bitter end, along with beginning to fully express all of his emotions, all helped him to persevere.  Greg had witnessed his other friend and breeding partner, (along with Sonnenschein Kennel-founder Judi Boston), Mrs. Kathy Heschke, to under go her own cancer treatment, remission, and then her relapse leading to her eventual death- helped him to decide after a week of his own chemotherapy, that it was diminishing his quality of life quicker, and than the tumors alone were.  This decision,  along with his ever-devoted partner, Dennis -as his sole caretaker, seemed to highy attribute to Greg's extended life span of two more years! 

   During this last year (of 2023) Greg had been living with a terrible inguinal hernia down through his groin and into his gonads- during all of this bodily pain, (he had persevered with full-time caregiving assistance from Dennis) personally groomed, handled, and finished Sizzle's ( a Bouvier female puppy, while under 18 months old)  championship, and then with Luca (the two year old Bouvier male) within only seven showings, had earned Luca a spot within the Bouvier des Flandres Club of America his standing in the Top 10 Status, and for months after, earning and keeping the status of being the Number Five Bouvier, Nationwide!

*Watch Greg and Luca from December 2021 at the Orlando Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes [which was five months after Greg's first hospitalization & his diagnosis!]

https://akc.tv/event-video?id…

         Greg's second to last dog show, the Lone Star State Classic, was held at Market Hall in Downtown Dallas. On July 7th - 8th, here for the first time in over four decades of his art, his local family members gathered!               Greg's long time client, confidant, friend, and fellow Bouvier aficinado-Mrs. Priscilla W. Martin, who of course at her local shows was happy to join alongside with Greg's kin and partner,  together they had witnessed, supported, and celebrated Greg's performing in his utmost splendor, the epitome of his passion, with one of his self-dubbed "personal best and favorite show dogs of all time", all while being captured by AKC TV-making it available for posterity through streaming!  

Please do watch there:

https://akc.tv/event?id=9773

     Greg's ultimate dog show was held at Houston NRG Stadium in 2023 (completing the circle of two years prior, where he had nearly died...) 

      There Greg and Luca received two Herding Group Placements which firmly secured Luca's designation into the Bouvier des Flandres Club of America's upcoming National Specialty, scheduled at the end of September in 2023.   With all of his gratitude, this achievement was only accomplished through humbly realizing that Greg could no longer gait his own young dog at the required higher speed, in order to showcase and display Luca's excellent physical qualities.  An allowance for physical handicap was requested, a milestone for Greg to face his own limitations, and to own that he may now be physically less capable, yet was granted permission to be allowed a handler to stand in for him ONLY to move out, and gait/ run/ perform the  moving parts of the large distances within the show rings.  This possibility was formerly unknown, and lifted him from his depression of having his dream slip away,  also garnered him more time to participate, and this permission would be made official through the AKC, and would remain permanently active on file as his condition persisted! What a boon! Now, as he had this provision, Greg's joy in showing, carried him through the upcoming challenges of the hernia repair surgery...

It also made his goal more realized and attainable as he was steadfast to deliver these dogs' accomplishments from his deep appreciation for all the friendship, efforts, support of Luca's  and Sizzle's owner-Mrs. Priscilla W. Martin- through the years. Such that Greg could do his best to offer and share with her a hard-earned, yet a simple honor of her dog's high status and recognition amongst the breed club's members at the upcoming September National Specialty...

      Alas, attending the Bouvier Specialty in Gray Summit, Missouri this year ( September 2023) would not come to pass, as Greg's hernia repair procedure would be delayed all the way through August, due to office clerical issues, and then to how his own body had a mineral imbalance-  yet he did persist.   And instead of attending the specialty, he did receive that necessary surgery, and was healing well into five weeks of the standard six weeks recovery time.  So well, in fact, that the operating surgeon was shockingly impressed at his lack of bruising, swelling, pain, and complications-in his check up, to which he exclaimed, "All things considered, Greg, you are healing better than some of my younger and healthier patients; I'm thrilled!  Keep up the good work!".   

        Greg had a blossoming confidence in his upcoming new immunotherapy treatments, and met with pwith a new Hematologist-Oncologist.  And he was looking forward to January 1st, 2024 since he was slated to receive early, emergency Medicare status, from surving after his two years of being on disability, which would open even more doors to other specialists, clinics, treatments, even trials...

      On Tuesday, October 10th Greg had visited his new oncologist's office for routine blood work, and was dealing with shortness of breath.  Many of his blood cells were on the lower end of the scale, and Dennis had taken him directly from the office to the nearby emergency room at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital at 2:30 pm.  During this time, his distant relatives that reside in the Eastern portion of America were preparing for their upcoming visit for the Texas State Fair, and Greg was upbeat, that despite being unable to attend the fair this year, he would still visit with them at dinner, afterwards...Yet, again, God's Divine timing stayed in play, and these relatives would be visiting him at the hospital during last week of his life... 

          Some of them greeted him in his regular room, Tuesday, October 17th, and some of the others would be visiting him Wednesday, October 18th, in the ICU where Greg wore a head-sized CPAP machine (since he refused to be intibated, a logical decision from watching his mother's medical struggle before she had passed away in 2019.) 

      His niece, Miranda Shea (and her husband, Michael) came to see their uncle and brought with them their toddler son, Nathan.  This completed another circle, since Greg had guessed upon first sight of her, that Miranda was pregnant back in 2021 when she had first visited him at Houston Methodist, even before anyone else knew. She made Greg promise to stay mum, to let her announce it to the rest of the family!

     And then by Thursday, October 19th, after his lunch and a serious  discussion with the Palliative Care physicians,  Greg was consciously informed of his current options- A) to continue treatment with less focus on pain, or B) the exact opposite.  He had decided and spoke on three separate occasions that afternoon, that he was ready to switch from palliative care into full hospice care... He had turned to Dennis after the third time and said, sweetly, in his relieved voice, "Is this this injection, going to be relaxing...like Harvard's?". This was a reference to how Greg had to assist the death of his own Best in Show Giant Schnauzer, Skansen Havard a couple years before.  Dennis nodded and held his face, and assured him, "Exactly, Hon. It's all about your comfort from here on..."

     Greg and Dennis had previously discussed Greg's wishes to establish a Do Not Resuscitate order, to avoid being put on life support.  The appropriate medical steps were taken to nullify his defibrillator/ pacemaker.  By 6pm that same evening, Greg was taken off of life supportive devices, medications, and all IV administered treatments.  Greg warmly  said that he loved Dennis and that he loved Clarissa , whom also was there in attendance with her dear friends, and stated that he was ready...

      Greg was transferred down to the Hospice wing, on second floor, to his final resting place.  There at his side that evening were his friend Clarissa Barraza, his sister, Sherrie Reyna, and his devoted partner of eleven and a half years-Dennis Kennelly.  They played his favorite Aretha Franklin songs,among others, and sat with him bedside, soothing him, speaking to him, holding his hand, smoothing his hair, praying over him, and offering Greg his favorite of all- the rubbing of his feet.

       Dennis had the ladies leave by 1am, Friday morning, so that they would remain safer in driving back to Dallas, before the clubs and bars would close. He would hold Greg's hand until finally needing to sleep himself at 4:30am.   And by Friday, October 20th, at  6am, Dennis was abruptly fully-awakened, in time to share Greg's last heartbeats...to stand witness to Gregory Don finally being freed from his pain-wracked body, being reunited with his old and recent friends, dearly departed family members, all his rejoicing animals with Greg's meeting them on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge, and being guided by the loving hands of the Lord...

     Gregory Don Reyna was a simple man from modest means, whom worked from age sixteen through his entire life of sixty-one years, in order to support himself-though from twenty-eight years old and onwards, only through a career of his truest passion.    

       Greg was unfortunate to be unable to procure (due to pre-existing condition) nor did he have a life insurance policy in place before the time of his passing.  Neither did he have any extraneous accounts, stock options, or savings bonds to transfer upon his death.   His living wish was to be cremated.  Although he was a spiritual man who believed in and whole-heartedly loved Jesus Christ, was also baptized twice, and whom had even been a congregation member for some time at The Potter's House of Dallas, TX, in his later years, Greg would always be enthralled in experiencing God's Glory:  being out in the wild, untamed beauty of all sortsof natural areas across America...and in the world. As he enjoyed traveling for leisure and for work. He treasured his visits to Spain and especially his judging assignment in Budapest, Hungary...

Gregory Don Reyna was preceeded in death by his maternal uncle, Jerry Roberts and his mother, Arnita Reyna.

He leaves behind in his immediate family: his father, Mike Reyna, Jr. (and his wife-Hui Chaun], his two maternal aunts- Janie Cosby [and her husband- Tim] and aunt, Carolyn Alexander [and her husband-John Alexander], and their daughter/ Greg's cousin- Shannon [and her husband-Matthew Griffin.]

Greg's eldest brother- Steven Reyna, [his wife- Kim,] their eldest son/Greg's nephew- Mike Reyna [and his wife- Holly, and their three children in descending ages, son- Colton, son- Caleb, and daughter- Chloe], their second son/ Greg's nephew, Derek Reyna [and his wife- Natalie, and their children:  daughter- Clara, daughter- Zoe, and son- Jet], daughter/ niece- Stephanie Lovett [and her husband- Scotty, and their daughter- Audrey], his second oldest brother, Larry Reyna, and his children: son/ nephew- Larry Keith Reyna [and his wife- Aly, children: son- Charlie, and son- Will ], daughter/ niece Miranda Shea [and her husand- Michael and son- Nathan], son/ nephew- Justin Reyna.

     Greg leaves behind his longtime partner of eleven and a half years, Dennis Kennelly, and two, young Champion Bouvier des Flandres:  the just turned three year old male, Margaux's Black Gold At Zaza -"Luca", and the just two year old female, Margaux's Sizzlin' Saturday Night- "Sizzle".

       We repectfully and humbly ask our community of friends, family, and collegues who are wishing to send flowers, in lew of, please, instead do consider making a contribution to help support Dennis during his time of grief and mourning, who has been Greg's full-time caregiver throughout the emotionally challenging past two years, and in helping to offset the sacrificed income, Greg's funeral/ memorial services, and the state law-required legal counsel. 

          With a grateful and broken heart, we thank each of our friends and loved ones for standing with us during this difficult time, and appreciate all of your generosity, kindness, and prayers!

Greg Reyna's Life Celebration- Memorial Potluck

When:      Sunday, January 28th, 2024,

At:   1pm-5pm

Where:   

  Lakeside Activity Center,   

101 Holley Park Drive 

Mesquite TX, 75149

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A separate "Dog Show Family & Friends" specific Life Celebration for Greg Reyna will be held on:

When:

Saturday, February 10th, 

tentatively set for 6pm-10pm ( to coincide with after the BIS group at the show)

Where:

nearby (only 1.3 miles away) from Dallas Market Hall, at

El Carlos Elegante Restaurant

1400 N Riverfront Blvd,

[🙏 🚨FYI -This site processes with the going rate of 2.9% and .30 cents per donation. Please enter a numerical 'zero' to bypass the "surprising tip button". 🙏 ]

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