Gary Leon Horton, 64 of Powderly, turned in his last logbook and headed to his ultimate destination on March 15, 2022.
Funeral services have been set for Friday, March 18, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home with Rev. Curtis Blake officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time. Interment will follow at Meadowbrook Cemetery.
Gary was born to Johnnie Faye Finley and Lloyd Lee Horton on August 19, 1957 in Greenville, TX. He attended school at Chicota until it combined with North Lamar, where his loud humor and smart mouth earned him an invitation to leave school early, leading him to proudly receive his GED. He served many years in the National Guard at Camp Maxey, meeting many who would continue to be lifelong friends.
He worked many jobs over the years including building houses with his friends, working for Brannan’s Bass Shop in Powderly, and driving semi-trucks as big as his personality. During his first job he was gifted a belt buckle with a horse’s rear on it. Gary wore that buckle until his belly outgrew his sense of humor but anyone who knew him well, knows he lived up to that humorous symbol. Most recently, he was employed by Lazer Spot where he continued giving everyone a hard time.
Gary was a father like no other. His time was dedicated to both work and his kids, always making sure that someone was always learning from him. Many times what not to do, but still a lesson learned. He loved his kids, always made sure they knew he loved them, and acted as if he had no idea where we acquired our attitudes and stubbornness. He was proud no less. His favorite hobby was anything that involved his 2 favorite blondes, Addy and Alli. Whether it was showing up for their sports, gymnastics, being their taxi, taking them to Aunt Mary’s for breakfast and Weezy’s for dinner, bringing them a new animal friend despite protest from their mom or making sure their four wheelers were always up and running through the mud, they were his pride and joy. His granddaughters held his hand and his heart through the end. He enjoyed simple things in life like fishing with his family, being outdoors, barbequing and watching football just to make fun of the Dallas Cowboys.
He had many longtime friends that meant the world to him, and he picked on them all daily. He enjoyed making Facebook posts and comments just to get a rise out of people. He was always cracking jokes and making others laugh. If he didn’t pick on you in his life, now is the time to tell you, he didn’t like you.
He is proceeded in death by his mother, Johnnie and his brother, John David Horton (Rusty), his grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his father, Lloyd Lee Horton; son, Joshua Horton of Arthur City; daughter, April Horton of Blossom; his granddaughters, Addyson & Allisyn Horton; son, Jason Thompson (Samantha) of Oklahoma; stepdaughter, Sirena Otts (Kelsey) of Breckenridge; grandchildren, Christopher, Zachary, and Abigail Otts; Nathan Batek (Amanda), Kaleb, Kaiden, Kameron, Kayleigh and Kash Thompson of Muskogee, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren, Emma, Elliott, and Eleanor Batek of Breckenridge. He is also survived by brothers, Shane Horton of Gainesville and Tommy Horton of Aubrey; sisters, Kathy Perry (Danny) of Paris, Donna Fowler (Henry) of Oklahoma, Janet Akers (Keith) of Paris, Tonya Wallace of Gainesville along with many uncles, aunts, a whole herd of cousins and a host of friends.
Pallbearers are Everette Brannan, Taylor Horton, Dakota Hudson, Mitch Morris, Christopher Otts, Zachary Otts, Johnny McLemore, Richard Robertson.
If you wish to honor Gary but not send flowers, please consider a gift to Dallas 24 Hour Club in his name. He strongly encouraged and believed in the life saving mission of The 24 and the gifts of sobriety freely given to his daughter there. www.dallas24hourclub.org
Online condolences may be sent to the Horton family by visiting www.fry-gibbs.com
