Gaylord Sturgess

The DASH, that small line between Gaylord’s birth and his passing unto GOD, can in no way nor even come close to revealing the full story of Gaylord’s life that this Christian man lived before GOD on this earth! Only his wife, his family and his loving friends know just what that insignificant little dash line could tell and is worth! Nor does it reveal just how successful he was or how admired he stood among his professional peers.

That small short dash represents how Gaylord lived as a Christian: being the husband and father he was, the friends he shared life with, the many lives he touched with his music, as well as the benevolent blessings he and Sharon bestowed to others in their times of their need! His life is accurately measured by his faith, his love and his graciousness! Gaylord lived a full and blessed life…. that is how he lived his dash!

Gaylord was proud of his native American heritage. He was descended from the noble Choctaw Indian Nation.

Gaylord was born to Gaylord Weldon Sturgess and Irene Aven ( both deceased ) in Durant. Oklahoma. He would have been 79 on Sunday, September 5.

Preceding him in death were his four siblings: Evelyn Jean Sturgess, Thomas Weldon Sturgess, Carolyn Sue Sturgess Reue and Jack Howard Sturgess. Gaylord remained the last member of his family!

He graduated with Sharon from Bryan Adams High in Dallas, Texas in 1960. He attended North Texas College in Denton Texas, attended Stenograph Institute in Abilene, Texas and finished his career education in Dallas, Texas.

He began his professional career in Johnson County Texas in 1966 as the County Court Reporter under Judge Jackson. He later joined two other reporters, forming the firm of Kee, Meyer & Sturgess in Fort Worth. That entity later became Merit Court reporters. He retired as Senior Partner in 2015. Amazingly, right up to the time of his passing, Gaylord’s career had spanned some 57 years!

Gaylord also served 20 plus years as a Director for Midlife Behavior, a prison rehab ministry! He was an avid fisherman and hunter, raising his children and grandchildren to follow in his steps. Over the years, when hunting with lease partners, he was urged to sing the Irish tune ‘Danny Boy’ at every year’s campfire!

Truly, his first love was composing spiritual songs! Over the years, he wrote hundreds of Christian hymns and touching love songs! He has also coauthored music with his friend, Thomas Autry. The highlight of his musical career was singing tenor in the well known quartet, the Gospelaires, a gospel quartet which he cofounded with Christian brothers: Jim Hulsey, David Wallace, B.B. Stevens and Cliff Holden.

Gaylord was faithfully married 58 years to Sharon Marie Robinson. And to that godly bond in Christ, four wonderful children were added: Gayla Deanne, Gaylord Brent, Duncan Vince and Emily Sharon. There are six gifted grandchildren: Jared, Jackson, Bailey, Madi, Nolan and Forrest.

Gaylord was uncle to 13 nieces and nephews!