WALKER, Gary Lee (Texas Wooley)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 01/03/2014 Gary Lee Walker was found lifeless Thursday morning, Dec. 26, 2013, in Springerville. Gary missed his 61st birthday by one day. He was born Dec. 27, 1952, in Texarkana, Texas, to Charles and Dorothy Walker. His childhood experiences ranged from Texarkana, Redwater, Texas, to as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska; which at the time was only a territory and had not yet become a state. For the past 20 years, Gary resided in the Springerville area. Gary will always be remembered for his sense of humor and his ability to make friends with everyone he met. Two of Gary’s passions were fishing in the outdoors and sports, mostly football and baseball. He always rooted for the Cowboys and rarely missed a game. Gary graduated from Texarkana High School and attended Texarkana College for a short period before becoming an entrepreneur, opening his own business catering to public entertainment. He worked for Brown and Root as a millwright, working on power plants from overseas and around the U.S. before becoming disabled. Gary will be sorely missed by friends and his surviving family members: his mother Dorothy (93); brothers: Charles Walker, Ronald Walker and Dr. Michael Walker; his immediate family: daughters Kimberly Lee Walker and Dee Ann Walker and granddaughters Taylor and Harper, reside in Texas. Gary will be missed by his longtime caregiver and best friend Rose. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Donald Walker Sr. Gary “Texas Wooley” was loved and will be missed by everyone. A memorial service will be set around Texarkana, Texas, in mid-January. Burnham Mortuary of Eagar handled arrangements. To send an online condolence, log on to www.burnhammortuary.com.