Gary Lynn Hensley, 76, passed from this earth on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 surrounded by those he loved most. He was known to most as an avid fisherman but his titles of husband, dad, pawpaw, and buggy are the ones he treasured most.
Gary was born to Viola and Glendon Hensley on December 19th, 1947. After graduating from high school, he served in the United States Army for 2 years. During that time he met Bugs at a dance and immediately fell in love. They were married March 1, 1969 and then was deployed to Germany. He later retired from the Arkansas Department of Transportation after 18 years, where he was known as “Hen.”
Gary loved to be outdoors. When he wasn’t fishing or hunting, he was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved working in his garden and cleaning his already spotless truck and boat. He enjoyed watching televised sports, coaching his son’s baseball team, attending his grandkids sporting events and getting sweets from his “little girl” Tammie. He was a member of Oak Bowery Baptist church.
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Georgia “Bugs” Hensley; his two children, Tammie (Charlie) Swaffar of Conway and Lynn Hensley of Saltillo; his grandkids, Kayla (Ethan) Broadway of Jonesboro, Amber (Matt) Clark of Beebe, Kyle (Tessa) Macomber of Mt. Vernon, Trevor (Raven) Hensley of Heber Springs, Cole, Brooklyn, Katelynn and Taylor; his great-grandkids, Michael and Trinity Clark, Karsyn, Kyndall, and Mason Broadway, baby Hensley and baby Macomber arriving later this year; honorary daughter, Lindie Lyons; his brothers, Steve Hensley and Travis Hensley; and his sister, Marsha Hensley.
