Part 3 of 3
I always felt welcome when we would visit Norma and Grover on Stillwell, and Gary and Lynn continued that welcoming tradition. We shared many feasts, played many card games, and had many conversations around the huge dining room table. It was always a good time at the Stivers. The door was always open and I always felt love and FAMILY there.

Gary and all of the extended Stivers family are in my thoughts, prayers and most importantly my memories. Gary will be missed, and that's a good thing. His smile, his scowl, his forthrightness (nice way of saying telling it like it is), compassion and love for his friends and family (not always in his words, but in his actions). This Thanksgiving and during holidays to come, there will be a large void missing as family and friends gather, but there will be an even fuller feeling in our hearts as we remember the impact Gary had on our lives.


Part 2 of 3
Another memory of Gary was when he visited our family in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania after he had returned from working abroad on the island of Kwajalein, part of the Marshall Islands - This would have been in the late 1970's, I think. He was walking tall, tan and full of confidence. I was very excited to be visited by my cousin who had been way out in the Pacific Ocean on an Island I had never heard of at the time. During the visit, we took him to our favorite local pizza place, Sorrento's, where they still tossed pizza dough and you could watch them from outside through a large plate glass window. We ate on site and ordered the everything pizza. Gary claimed he was very hungry and that he was sure he never met a pizza he couldn't finish. Gary's eyes got wide open when he saw the pizza come to the table, it was at least two inches thick with all the toppings. Gary was determined not to let the pizza beat him, and I believe we ate the entire pizza, but we all could barely move after dinner. I always thought of Gary each time I ate there after his visit. I still pass Sorrento's when I take the bus to work 2 days a week and, I have, and will continue to think of Gary when I pass it by.


Part 1 of 3
Gary was always a larger-than-life person in my life, both in physical form and in his attitude and mere presence. As my oldest First Cousin, he was more like an uncle to me, and I always looked up to him. At a young age, I was both in awe of him and kind of frightened of him. My memory may not be totally accurate in this instance, but I remember one time, not sure why we were all together or where we were going, I was just happy to be with my three cousins on a short road trip. It was Gary, Terri, Mark and me in Gary's car - a muscle car of some kind. I think Kenny was in the Army at the time in Germany. Gary had to, of course, drive like a madman, speeding to God knows how fast, in my mind it was over 100 mph! I was in the back seat with Mark who was smiling and laughing, he seemed to be truly enjoying himself, while I was both petrified and experiencing something new as copious amounts of adrenaline flowed through my lanky body - was it excitement? I was squirming around trying to find the safest way to sit or curl up in the back seat to survive the inevitable crash, not sure we even had seat belts on back then. God bless Terri for noticing that I was not really enjoying the ride for fear of certain death approaching, she was able to convince Gary to slow it down a bit. Thank you, Terri, for saving our lives that day. That's how I remember it, but it could have easily been Matt Short driving, he's been known to drive fast too.

So very sorry Lynn.  May he rest in peace.    

Lynn, Wendy & Gary Christopher: Joy Lynn called me last night with the sad news.  Gary  was larger than life in my eyes as a kid.  I think I inherited my snarky humor from Aunt Norma's side of the family.  You are in my prayers, and so sorry we haven't connected in awhile. So many things remind me of Gary, but I love my memory of him and Dad fighting over the oyster stuffing Grandma made every year at Thanksgiving.  Gary gave my dad a run for his money and I loved him for it.  Jan

OBITUARY

Gary Clifford Stivers

May 11, 1950 – November 15, 2022

Webb Noonan Kidd Funeral Home

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