Gary Lamar Muckleroy

Gary Lamar Muckleroy went to his Heavenly Home on Saturday, October 12, 2024. He was born to the late Felix Carnes Muckleroy and Ruth Beatrice Muckleroy on October 20, 1950, in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Gary graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1968, then enrolled in Stephen F. Austin State University.

He was a member of New Hope Congregational Methodist Church for many years, and later a charter member of Nacogdoches Congregational Methodist Church. More recently, Faith Bridge Community Church is where he has continued to worship and serve.

In the 1970’s and 80’s Gary proudly sold Case logging equipment out of Lufkin, Texas. And since May 24, 1993, he has thoroughly enjoyed his co-workers, customers and friends at Rush Truck Center in Lufkin. For 31-years, he has worn, displayed, sold, and spoken highly of his Peterbilt trucks.

Gary partnered with a local Hispanic church and worked diligently, spending his own savings, to help rescue a large family from the destruction and killings in El Salvador during their Civil War in the late 1970’s and into the 80’s. Once rescued, he continued to help them find housing, jobs, and study for their citizenships.

He will be remembered as a devout Christian man, a loving husband, and a proud father, grandfather, son and brother. God and Family were his life and goal. He wanted to be in the presence of, or talking about, them every chance he got. And Gayle and Gary hosted many of those gatherings on their back deck, where he loved to sit and visit, and watch his many deer, birds, and rabbits that lived behind his home.

He loved hunting and fishing, and pretty much anything that involved being outdoors. From driving over mountain passes in Colorado and Canada, to exploring the Redwoods and Sequoias in California, to saltwater fishing out of South Louisiana, and hunting those white-tail deer right here in East Texas, he loved doing it, and he loved reminiscing about it too. And he always wanted his family with him on each of those adventures.

He will truly be missed by those who have known him, but none more than his soul-mate, best friend, and wife, Gayle. Friends set them up on a blind date January 20, 2001, and it’s been love ever since. They were married on August 17, 2001, and have been inseparable

and enjoying 23 loving years together.

Survivors include his wife, Gayle; daughters, Sandra-Jeane and Brandon Wood, Jakey and Damon Sampson, Jolie and Monty Melton; children-in-love, Kent Birdwell, and Kelly Griffey; his grandchildren, Dylan and Slayton Sampson, Kaylie and Joshua Darden, Cory and Andy Melton, Marissa and Brant Redmon, Alyssa Ward, Kirsten Griffey; great grandchildren, Jaxon and Kayden Ward, Adrian Roman; and his siblings, Ronnie Muckleroy and Bonnie Huguet, Jan and Robin Dawley; along with numerous extended family members and long term friends. Pallbearers will be Dylan and Slayton Sampson, Cory and Andy Melton, Joshua Darden, and Kent Birdwell. Honorary pallbearers will be Brandon Wood, Damon Sampson, and Monty Melton.

“Well done, good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 24:23

Visitation will be at 1:00PM on Friday, October 18, 2024, followed immediately by a service at 2:30PM, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.