Gary Eugene Straach

Gary Eugene Straach, 72, of Big Sandy, Texas, was born on September 27, 1951, in Dallas, Texas. He was the third child born to Eugene Reinhold Straach and Lillian Estelle Patterson. Gary graduated from Santa Anna High School. He joined the Army at the age of 18 on his father’s birthday. While serving in the Army, Gary began the fast-track medical school program and later changed his MOS to the Star Wars program which was involved with Chapparal Missile Guidance lasers and night vision development. Gary was on the Army shooting team and earned an Expert Marksman Medal, a bronze medal in pistol and a bronze medal in rifle. He retired from the Army after 20 years as a CW3/W3 Warrant Officer. He went to work with his father in the auto parts and auto paint businesses. Gary later owned a sporting goods business in the Dallas Area. He attended Dallas Baptist University and later completed the courses and requirements to become a Certified Real Estate Appraiser. He owned his appraisal company AABICO for 23 years. Gary semi-retired in 2020, then handed the company over to his daughter, Diana Aza, when he fully retired in 2021. Gary and his first wife, Sally, had 3 beautiful children, Diana Lynn, Andrea Marie, and Nicholaus Karl Straach. He was also a stepfather to Sally’s daughter, Michelle. Gary met his wife Kari in 2014 and they married in 2016. He became a stepfather to Kari’s adult children, Corey and Kaylin Kruseman. Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Lillian; his brother, Ronnie Powell; sister, DeAnna Greer; and his beautiful daughter, Diana Aza. Gary is survived by his wife, Kari; his children, Andrea and Nicholaus; his stepchildren, Michelle, Corey, and Kaylin; grandchildren, Issac, Kaitlyn, Gregory, Grayson, Sophia, and Otto; sister, Linda Picon; and brother, Richard Straach. After retiring, Gary and Kari wanted to find the perfect setting and build a home to host and entertain friends and family. They found the setting and amazing friends in Big Sandy in 2019 and had the challenge of building their own home during COVID in 2020. He made many friends while living their short 3 ½ years in Big Sandy and wanted to especially thank the following: Pam Huffman for her unending love and support especially during the last moments of his life. He also wanted to thank Kari’s son Corey for opening his home and supporting us both through 4 months of medical care and treatments at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston. Corey was a chauffeur, a hot shot driver for specialty drugs, an “Uber Eats” driver, and a shoulder to lean on. Kari’s daughter, Kaylin, brought meals to the hospital, gave Kari a respite, and helped wrangle his “wild child” dog Laney, for a visit and lunch by the MD Anderson fountains. Kaylin and Audra and Kari’s friends, Juli and Richard helped haul and unload the collection of belongings that “somehow” grew while staying at Corey’s. Kari’s parents, Jim and Linda, drove her to get belongings and documents from home and back to Houston when she was too exhausted to drive it alone. Kari’s work family visited and closed the office one day so they could come and give love and support when things became very tenuous. There are truly no words or descriptions that could detail the pillars of strength and support our neighbors, Don and Hope Mosely have been. They took dogs to vets, got medications from the pharmacy that got misdirected, kept our big dogs, mowed our pastures, wrapped pipes, put out heat lamps, and had meals waiting when we could sneak in a weekend once or twice to visit home, and held our hands and dried our tears up until Gary took his last breath. Tony Vinson geared up in full isolation gear and braved COVID exposure to visit Gary when he was in isolation and suffering from acute respiratory distress after a rebound COVID event. Kari’s son, Corey, also geared up and made sure Gary got Super Bowl snacks to enjoy the big game. Barbara and Wayne Glover drove in from Kansas City and spent a week visiting and sharing old memories. Those visits all helped break up the misery and monotony of his extended hospital stays. There are many other friends who continually called, lifted us up in prayer, and we could have never completed this journey without each of you. Celebration of Life for Gary is scheduled for 5:00 pm, Friday, June 14, 2024, at McWhorter Funeral Home, Gilmer, Texas. Viewing will be held at 4:00 pm prior to the service. Following the service drinks and snacks will be served in the reception area. Family and friends will go in a procession led by the Patriot Guard from several chapters from Gilmer, Texas to Rowena Protestant Cemetery, San Angelo, Texas, where graveside service will be held at 4:00 pm, Saturday, June 15, 2024. If you wish, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to one of the following organizations. Please provide your address so we may send an acknowledgment. These organizations are known to our family for decades and pass muster with us: Water Springs Ranch, 7707 Sanderson Lane, Texarkana, Arkansas, 71854 or Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, The UMC, 602 Southwest 35th St., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73109. Attn: Reverend David Wilson. The world is truly a darker place without his amazing smile to light up rooms. Gary will be missed by so many, and was blessed by just as many. His smile, corny jokes, and sayings will forever bring laughter and joy. We encourage you to share some of those thoughts and prayers at the end of the service. For those joining the family motorcade to Rowena, we ask that you bring a favorite quote or verse that you could share at the graveside. Please visit Gary’s online registration book at www.mcwhorterfh.com to leave a memory for the family.

Gary Eugene Straach

September 27, 1951 - June 7, 2024