Garry Lee Wilson

Garry Lee Wilson, 87 of Stigler, passed away Monday, August 28, 2017 at Haskell County Hospital in Stigler. He was born December 24, 1929 in Bonaparte, Iowa to Lester and Jennie (Lee) Wilson. His parents moved to Fairfield, Iowa for his senior year in order for him to play basketball and to continue his education at the Fairfield Christian College. He began his career teaching Math and coaching Basketball in a rural area near Ames, Iowa. He was then solicited by the Iowa State Highway Department and took the position as an engineer and became a team member of the Iowa State Highway Department. After a few years he then became a successful owner of a Home Laundry Equipment Store, which featured Speed Queen Home Laundry Equipment in Ames, Iowa which then led him to a position as a Marketing Specialist traveling throughout the United States and was honored many times as “Speed Queen Salesman of the Year.” During one of his stops in Tulsa, he met Patsy Cariker and a year later they were married. They were moved to the Dallas area and settled in Carrolton, Texas to be near the airports which became the beginning of his new mode of travel. He was very enthusiastic and very competitive in his work and play. He was very active in several different Tennis Clubs throughout the Dallas and Ft. Worth area accumulating many awards and trophies. For many years Garry was a dedicated and dreaded rival member of local Skeet Shooting Clubs and an avid Game Hunter. After Garry retired, he decided it would be best for Patsy to be closer to her mother (Verniece Cariker) who was having more health issues so he came to Stigler, studied all the pros and cons of living in Stigler and decided it would be a good retirement place to live, especially when he found a place just like he had been hoping for and one that Patsy agreed with. He was a member of First Freewill Baptist Church in Stigler. Garry is survived by his wife of 39 years, Patsy Wilson of the home; their children, Rick Wilson and wife Marti of Maumelle, AR., Kathy Hamm of Conway, AR., Jerry Schooley and wife Kaye of Tulsa, OK., Douglas Wilson and wife Joyce of Maumelle, AR.; 13 grandchildren, Jessica & Steven, Joey & Andrea, Rebecca, Jason & Erin, Crystal & Chris, Hunter & Emily, Lyndsey & Brennan, Laura Beth, Jacob & Ann Dee, Abby & Justin, Joshua & Aubrie, Rendi & Aaron, John Riley; 21 great- great grandchildren; 1 great-great-granddaughter. Garry is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Jennie Wilson; a daughter & son-in-law, Patti Diane & Leon Callison; son-in-law, Phillip Hamm. Cremation Arrangements are under the direction of King & Shearwood Funeral Home of Stigler. A “Celebration of Life” will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 9, 2017 at First Freewill Baptist Church in Stigler with Reverend David Biggers officiating. In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to the building fund to help finish the renewing of the Stigler First Freewill Baptist Church.

Garry Lee Wilson

December 24, 1929 - August 28, 2017