Gary Wayne Whisenhunt, age 75 of Odessa, Texas, passed on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in Houston, Texas. Gary slipped peacefully from his Place with his worldly family to his heavenly family. Gary was surrounded by his loved ones at Houston Methodist Hospital.

 

Visitation will be Thursday evening, June 2, 2022, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

 

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, June 3, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church at 7601 N. Grandview Ave. Father Joseph Barbieri is officiating. Arrangements are by Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.

 

Gary was born September 17, 1946, in Odessa, Texas, to Louis and Opal Whisenhunt. He was the youngest of five siblings. Gary graduated in 1964 from Ector High School and attended Odessa College while working at Medical Center Hospital. Gary worked as a phlebotomist for many years in the office of Drs. Galloway, Lauderdale, Williams and Doran. After a change in careers, he worked for Permian Air Conditioning, was a construction foreman for the Clayton Williams development of Clay Desta in Midland. Another change in careers brought him to the ECISD Maintenance Department. Gary retired from ECISD after 25 years in 2011.

 

Gary married Sandra Jarvis on June 8, 1967, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Odessa, Texas. Gary and Sandie were blessed with two children, Scott Whisenhunt and Lori Fisher. While being proud parents to their children, they received their most precious blessing, their only grandchild, Brody Wayne Fisher.

 

Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Opal Whisenhunt; three sisters, Laquita (Skeet) Dunlap, Paula Norman and Yvonne Thompson Dunlap; his only brother, Louis Dwight Whisenhunt. Gary is also preceded in death by his siblings by marriage, Jerry Dunlap, Larry Norman, Ralph Thompson, Michael Doherty, Connie Wills and Jan Whisenhunt. Nephews, Blake Dunlap, Ray Wills, Louis Manahan, and niece Jolene Thompson.

 

Gary is survived by his wife, Sandie Whisenhunt; son, Scott Whisenhunt and his special lady, Julie Richards of Odessa, Texas; daughter, Lori Fisher of Lubbock, Texas, and most loved and cherished grandson, Brody Wayne Fisher of Buda, Texas. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Juanita Kohlweck of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Siblings by marriage, Carole Doherty of Mt. Vernon, Indiana, and Allen Wills of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Gary is also survived by his special nieces and nephews that held a very loving place in his heart. Gary’s survivors also include his many special friends that have touched his life and heart in so many ways. These friends are family in every way, especially in the way that Gary cared and loved each one.

 

Gary loved his God, so he was not fearful of going home to his Lord and Savior. Gary loved his family with a passion that only those that knew him could understand. He loved his fur buddies and his grand dogs. He loved his music and if you were around Gary, there would be music. You were sure to hear his favorites, Jerry Dugan and Brian Milson. He even talked Jerry into helping him buy a guitar years ago. Gary loved golf or maybe it was the love of being with his golf buddies.

 

He made lifelong friends on the golf course. His dream was to play again with his friends. Bet he is playing the most beautiful course ever, now. He loved our weekend trips, going to the Creek, finding new places to explore, passing up spots for the ladies to shop and spending hours reading greeting cards in a vacuum repair shop in Ft. Stockton; taking his best friend for a ride in his red truck, rock hunting at the Mesa in Ft. Stockton, taking cruises with our cruise partners, Shawn and Diane. Getting Gary on the ship was hard but getting him off the ship was even harder. Thank goodness Shawn did not give up on getting us to sail with them. We all have and share the very special memories of the many nights spent at the Hacienda, enjoying great friends and music.

 

Life will go on for all who knew Gary and shared some of these experiences with him, but life certainly will not be same.

 

Honorary Pallbearers are Ernest Briles, Pete Garner, Billy Howell, Sr, David Lewallen, Gerald Fox, R.D. Williams, and Ron Kimbrell.

 

Memorials may be given to the Wounded Warrior Family Support, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or American Cancer Society.