Gary Larson Obituary

"Gary Lee Larson was born to the late Hans and Elenore Larson, a United States Army Veteran, and a homemaker, in Elk Horn, Iowa on October 17, 1938. He was immersed in the Christian community that would be his ultimate lifelong support from an early age. He joined the United States Air Force in June 1957 where he graduated high school in Munich, Germany. He later met and married his lifelong love, Alice Marie Dugger, on February 20, 1960, in San Angelo, TX where he was stationed in the Air Force. Gary served twenty years in the United States Air Force as a Petroleum Inspector. He retired from the USAF on September 30th, 1977, with an honorable discharge. He attended the University of Oklahoma for undergraduate studies from 1979-1981 before transferring and graduating from Cameron University with a bachelor's degree in general education with a minor in mathematics. He also graduated from Western Oklahoma State College with a degree in finance. He opened and later operated his own business, Gary Larson Advertising, as well as performing tax and Notary services for those as needed. He then worked for the City of Altus Municipal Airport for fifteen years, after spending a lifetime around airplanes, his own lifelong dream was achieved as he became a pilot in 1996 and a co-owner of the Piloting School. He sold his plane and moved to Muskogee, OK to be near his daughter and first grandchild in July 2004. Gary was a member of the Lion's Club, DAV, VFW, American Legion, American Military Society, Rotary, and the Air Force Sergeant's Association. Gary was blessed with a loving family and raised his two children with patience, discipline, and humility. He taught them to use proper English, the value of education, hard work, rock climbing, fishing, driving skills and often took them on family trips. Gary was a man with exceptional people skills, a skilled mathematician and the one to seek for problem solving, no matter how small. He will be dearly missed by his loved ones. He spent his retirement years enjoying every moment with his grandchildren and those extended family members of the church he called home, LifePoint. Gary is survived by his wife, Alice of the home; his son, David Larson and wife Roberta of Coweta, OK; his daughter, Tracy Cox and husband Micah of Fort Gibson, OK; his grandchildren, Cheyenne Donnely, Caitlyn Cox, Ashlynn Cox, Blake Cox, Jamey Nagy, Dalton Webb and Nicole Webb. He is preceded in death by his son, Ronald Lee Larson; his sisters, Gloria and Marilyn; brothers, Gerald and Darwin Larson; and his parents. Gary's visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Muskogee with family receiving friends from 5PM-7PM. A celebration of Gary's life will be held 10:30AM, Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at LifePoint Church in Muskogee with Pastor Guy Parrish officiating. David Larson, Micah Cox, Blake Cox, Donald Dugger, Luke Wilburn, Virgil Sallee, and Jackie Sallee will serve as casket bearers. Committal prayers and interment will follow at 12:30PM in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery. The family of Gary Lee Larson has entrusted his care, service, and burial to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 1020 West Okmulgee Avenue, Muskogee, OK. 918-9140-8883. Online condolences may be left for the Larson family at clifforddgarrettfamilyfh. com"