Gary Lynn Hooper was born September 20, 1938 in Mena, Arkansas to Robert L. and Mildred (Rodgers) Hooper and passed away September 28, 2019 in Heavener, Oklahoma at the age of 81.
He is survived by:
His wife:
Mary Ann (Patillo) Hooper of the home
Two sons:
Mark Alan Hooper of San Antonio, Texas
Brian Lee Hooper of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
One daughter:
Debbie Kay Humphrey and husband Randy of Heavener, Oklahoma
Four grandchildren:
Gavin Lee Humphrey of Heavener, Oklahoma, Hattie Lynn Humphrey of Heavener, Oklahoma, Madeleine Renee Hooper of Tallahassee Florida and Olivia Grace Hooper of Niceville, Florida
Numerous family members and a host of friends
Gary was preceded in death by his parents.
Gary was a long time resident of Heavener. He was a MLB Oakland Oaks batboy from 1951 to 1952 and graduated from Northside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1956 then attended SMU and Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Arkansas. Gary and Mary were married September 28, 1963 at the Heavener Christian Church, witnessed by Dorothy Stripling. He was a member of the Black Springs Masonic Lodge #543. He was an entrepreneur and owned several businesses, Rodgers Killian Sawmill in Norman, Arkansas, Gary Hooper Chevrolet in Prague, Oklahoma, Gary Hooper GMC in Okemah, Oklahoma, Mark Datsun in Shawnee, Oklahoma and worked for Don Ferris Chevrolet in Prague, Oklahoma. He was Supervisor for Sonic in Kansas, Nebraska, Georgia, South Carolina and Louisiana. Gary moved to Heavener in 1985 where he owned a local Sonic, Burger Express and the Kar Karrol car lot. He was a member in the Lions Club in Heavener. After retirement he enjoyed loving his family and putting a smile on people’s faces. Gary never met a stranger and never judged anyone, accepting everyone for who they were. He passed on to his family these ideas of acceptance. He had an uncanny way to build a personal relationship with everyone he met.
Gary loved his family, everyone he met and life as a whole.
A memorial service and celebration of his life will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at Heavener First Baptist Church with Brother Sam Dyer and Mr. Hank Stripling officiating.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener, Oklahoma.
Visitation with friends will be Tuesday, October 1, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel in Heavener, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers the family request with gratitude that memorial contributions in Gary’s name be directed to UAMS Institutional Advancement Giving for Greatest Needs, 4301 West Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 or Mercy Oncology Department, 7001 Rogers Ave. Suite 200, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903.
To sign Gary’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com
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