Gary Robert Moss

Gary was born in Texarkana, Texas, on March 3, 1942. He attended Texarkana Junior College and graduated from the University of Texas in 1965. Gary later did graduate work at UT and Texas State. He taught math at Lamar Junior High School from 1966 to 1969 while volunteering in youth ministry at the Brentwood Church of Christ.

Gary was recruited as the first youth minister for the Brentwood Church in 1969, where he was noted for youth rallies, retreats, and mission trips around the country. He also directed youth in several musicals and wrote and directed two plays for the church. His sincere desire to win the hearts of all youth for Christ led Gary to develop innovative methods in ministry, including driving the Joy bus to enable kids from East Austin to take part in his youth group activities and church services.

A few years later, Gary began a career in real estate where he quickly became a top salesman due partly to his ingenuity and skill with math, but primarily to his sincerity and compassion for others. In the early ‘80s, Gary opened his own brokerage, dba Gray & Co., where his noble character drew some of the best agents in Austin to work for him, which led to life-long friendships. Seemingly tireless and ever creative, Gary designed and built the Espirit office building on Capital of Texas Hwy during these years and found time to teach math for a local real estate institute.

In 1987 Gary began teaching two early morning classes at Brentwood Christian School, without accepting pay, before going to work at Gray & Co. each day. At heart, Gary was a master teacher who loved sharing his God-given skills and knowledge of the Truth with others, particularly through the humanities and advanced mathematics. So, following the market downturn of the late ‘80s, Gary closed the real estate office and began working full time at BCS, where he taught until he retired in 2007 after 20 years of inspiring students with his vast knowledge, humor, and Christian worldview.

A Renaissance man, Gary loved music, art, science, and literature, and was always thrilled when his teaching led to travel abroad and to Broadway musicals. However, following the spirit of Leonardo da Vinci, Gary built numerous playgrounds for Brentwood, including two playscapes at its original location on Arroyo Seco. At the current location on North Lamar, he built three other playgrounds, most notably a giant wooden dinosaur. Later, for a close friend, Gary built a multi-story, medieval castle-style tree house, which is the talk of the neighborhood.

Gary is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marquita Moss, daughters Tasha Walker and husband Joseph of Tyler, Christa Copeland and husband Todd of Austin, and Yahna Tucker and husband Peyton of Little Rock, AR.; and eight grandchildren, Isaac Copeland, Benjamin Copeland, and John Adam (Jack) Copeland of Austin, TX; Darby Walker and Richard (Rick) Walker of Tyler, TX; and Mattie Grace Tucker, Lucy Rene Tucker, and Finley Mae Tucker of Little Rock, AR. He is also survived by cousins Ricky Sandlin and wife Kaye of Texarkana, TX, and Linda Ray of Greenbriar, AR.

Visitation was held on January 8, 2016, at the Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville.The funeral service was held on January 9, 2016, at the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ, 11908 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin. Mr. Moss was laid to rest on January 10, 2016, at the Douglass Cemetery in Douglass, Texas, where other family members are buried.

Please visit Gary’s memorial site at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com where you can share memories and leave condolences for his family.