He was born on October 8, 1946 in Nowata, Oklahoma to the late John and Annabelle (Robbins) Tinker.
Gary was a mechanic specializing in Volkswagen; he worked for many years at Western Volkswagen in Las Vegas. Gary moved to Arizona in 1993 and was a head mechanic here.
Gary had many hobbies but Stained Glass was his most favorite. His dad did stained glass and Gary followed right along. He made many beautiful pieces. In recent days, Gary gave his Granddaughter a piece he made that he was very proud of.
Gary loved motorcycles. He was a Harley Davidson man. There are many pictures of him on a motorcycle but the best picture of him is on his bike with casts on each leg. He would tell stories of being up in the mountains riding his bike and enjoying the scenery.
He moved to Colorado from Oklahoma after High School. He lived there for many years and told many stories of his time there. It was one of his most favorite places to be.
Gary also enjoyed gold panning, going shooting with this grandsons, ATV Riding, and camping.
One of Gary’s passions was his TV. For the past couple of months we had been fighting with his TV. He would come to his daughter saying, “Baby, the TV’s not working again”. And it would only be HIS TV no one else had a problem. His daughter called Dish at least once a week to come out and troubleshoot. The last call was for a new remote. He loved to watch The Knife Show, Poker, Egyptians, and Ancient Aliens. Any astrology show or old cowboy movies he enjoyed and also loved the cooking channel. Some of his other favorites included drag racing, NASCAR and, of course, football. He was a Denver Broncos and Oklahoma University fan. He would root for the Arizona Cardinals from time to time. You could only imagine how football was in our house. Every now and then we would look through the DVR, you never knew what he was recording.
Gary traveled to many places including Hawaii, Alaska, and Jamaica to name a few. The place he would talk about the most was Alaska. He went gold panning in the city of Hope. He also went fishing and saw the Portage Glacier. He told his family of how he saw a Moose get hit by a car and you would have thought it was the world, he was so upset.
Gary was part Cherokee Indian. He was very proud of his Heritage and his Oklahoma roots. He would tell stories about the Indians. He would tell us about the history of Oklahoma and some of his favorite places to go. He talked about his family who still lived there and how proud of who he was and where he came from. He always wanted to go back home.
Last but not least, the joy of his life, his only daughter Sunshine. He lived with her for the past 15 years. She moved out on her own and that only lasted 3 years till dad moved in. She took care of his every need. She took him to all his doctor appointments, made sure he had all of his medication, she cooked, cleaned and cared for him. She was by his side through all his heart surgeries. After one of his surgeries, he woke up and the first thing he said to her was, “You’re my best friend”. She stuck by his side to the very end. They had a Father-Daughter bound that was like no other. They loved, teased, and joked around. There was no doubt they loved each other. She was the Sunshine of his life. He named her and he just knew it was going to be a girl. He heard someone say, “Sunshine” and he said, “ That’s it, you are my Sunshine”.
He is survived by his only daughter Sunshine Tinker and her husband Jon Hulsebus, brother John Tinker, three grandchildren Masen Lee Tinker, Jorden Ray Valenzuela & Giovanna Marie Flores, niece Ryan Lowe, great nephew Jaxxon Radke, and nephew John M. Tinker. And, of course, his furbies (dogs) ElleMay (his favorite), Phoenix, and Bevo. Steve G. was Gary’s closest and beloved friend. He said, “When I go, call Steve. He knows what to do”. Dad thought of Steve as a son and loved him as his own.
In addition to his parents, his sister Deborah Lowe preceded Gary in death.
Keeping with Gary’s wishes there will be no services. Sunshine and Jon will be taking him on his “last ride” back to Oklahoma where his cremated remains will be placed with his parents.
LETTER FROM SUNSHINE (Gary’s daughter)
Dad,
I just want you to know how much I love you and miss you. I’m gonna miss the bickering and the “story time with Dad”. It could have been about your meds, your hip, the dogs and who did what and where.
I'm going to miss walking by your room and seeing your smiling face or you telling me to come in because you have something to tell me.
I’m going to miss the world famous, “What’s for dinner?” or “Can you order me a Pizza?” or “ Can I have one of Jon’s Grape sodas?”.
I’m going to miss you always having the last word in everything. No matter what I said, you managed to squeeze something in. Mostly, I’m going to miss the phone call or you not knowing how to even work the phone.
You have been my everything. You have been the one constant in my life. You have seen me through it all and I will forever be grateful to you. You never gave up on me. No matter how hard things were, you always told, “It’s going to be okay”. It’s always been me and you. We have overcome so much. You have been a great role model for my kids and they love you more than ever. I'm so glad Giovanna was able to be help care for you. I will forever treasure the precious time we shared in my heart. I don’t have any regrets and I wouldn’t change anything. I would do it all over just for you. There’s not a memory or a story that doesn't have you in it. Everything I did revolved around YOU! I love you dad! My heart hurts but I know you're home and your work here is done. Save me a spot. I’ll see you soon. You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine.
You loving daughter, Sunshine
LETTER FROM GARY
Gary would like to let you know his work here is done. He received a call, sort of an offer you can’t refuse, for an appointment from which he will not be returning. This assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus, a reunion with family and friends he has not seen in a long time. His new mission takes him to a wonderful place where he will be at peace with love and laughter and endless days of rest are guaranteed. He left detailed instructions for his daughter and family to celebrate his mission here, which now has been completed. Lower adherence to this will not be tolerated.
John 16:22 “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.“
Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the Plans I HAVE for YOU’ Declares the Lord, ‘Plans to Prosper YOU and not to harm YOU, Plans to Give YOU Hope and a feature.”
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made, We will Rejoice and be Glad in it.”
Dad
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18