Obituary of Gary Lawrence Douglas

Gary Lawrence Douglas, age 71, resident of Coweta passed away Sunday morning, March 1, 2015 at the Clarehouse in Tulsa, OK. He was born on May 26, 1943 to Wilbur and Glenda G. (England) Douglas in Hutchinson, KS. Gary lived a full life, constantly pursuing his dreams. Gary was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, serving in Vietnam. He enlisted in the Navy in 1962 and was honorably discharged in 1966. He traveled to Okinawa, Japan and many other foreign ports and served, with pride, aboard the USS Gurke (DD 783) and USS General J. C. Breckinridge (T-AP-176). He continued his service, for many years, in the Navy Reserve, before being honorably discharged as a Radioman Second Class Petty Officer in 1990. In June1967, he married, his bride of 20 years, Barbara Brady. Gary went on to pursue a higher education and moved to Bolivar, Missouri where he and Barbara, raised their two sons, Paul and Brian. Attending Southwest Baptist University, he attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies/Psychology. Gary, and his family, relocated to Gypsum, Kansas where he pastored the First Baptist Church for three years. During that time, he lost his wife, Barbara, in a vehicle accident. Gary married Mary (Umber) Douglas on July 1, 1989 in Garden City, KS. They moved to Montana where they lived for many years before relocating to Coweta, Oklahoma. Gary was a member of the VFW Post 10887 in Broken Arrow, the American Legion Post 226 in Coweta and the Coweta Masonic Lodge. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Glenda G. Douglas and brother, Bradley Douglas. Gary is survived by his wife, Mary Douglas of Coweta, OK; sons, Paul Douglas, Kansas, Brian Douglas and wife, Renee, of Albuquerque, NM; 1 step-daughter, Ann Olson and husband, Pete, of Broken Arrow, OK; and numerous other relatives. Viewing will be from 9 AM - 8 PM on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at Wright-Brown Family Funeral Home. A graveside service for Gary will be at 11 AM on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Clarehouse, 7617 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The family of Gary L. Douglas entrusted his care and service to Wright-Brown Family Funeral Home, 210 S. Broadway, Coweta, OK 74429, 918-486-5515. You may view the obituary and send condolences to Gary's family online @www.brownfamilyfuneralhome.com.