Obituary for Gary Thorpe

Gary Stephen Thorpe

November 6, 1946 ~ January 13, 2020 (age 73)

Gary Stephen Thorpe, longtime Ponca City resident, took his final ride on his Harley Monday morning, January 13, 2020. He was 73 years young.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, January 20, 2020 at 2p.m. at the Carolyn Renfro Center. Rev Dennis Wildman, Pastor of Burbank Baptist Church will be officiating with Pastor Cap Mcllnay of First United Methodist Church of Blackwell, OK assisting. Burial will follow at the Ponca City I.O.O. F Cemetery with arrangements under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.Casket Bearers will be; Mark Steelmon, Greg Sixkiller, Mike Terry, Frank Barrows, John Mitchell and John Allen Campbell. Honorary casket bearers will be the employees of Evans and Associates, John Campbell and Dennis Carriger.

Gary was born on November 6, 1946 in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Richard Franklin Thorpe and Virginia (Reynolds) Thorpe. He attended the Jeffersonville, Indiana grade schools until he moved with his Mother back to Blackwell, Oklahoma at the age of 8. He attended Blackwell grade school for one year when they moved to Ponca City where he attended Jefferson Grade School, East Jr. High and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1964. Upon graduating He had joined the Army National Guard, so off to Fort Polk, Louisiana he went for Basic Training. He turned 18 while there. When he returned, he married Charlotte “Ann” Childers. To this union two children were born, Vicki D. Thorpe and Gary “Mark” Thorpe.

He worked in Construction his whole life. He worked for a number of years for Buttram Pipeline. Deciding to branch out, Gary started Thorpe Trenching in 1977. Thorpe Trenching handled the burying Fiber Optic Telephone Cable at the start of the Computer Age. He worked all over the Eastern Half of Oklahoma. The Company was terminated upon his divorce from Ann. He then started a second Company known as GMT Construction. Gary put his son Mark on a tractor at the age of 12 and he was taught the family trade. Mark stated his Dad taught him the work ethic that he has today because of working side by side with his Dad all those years. He continued on the construction side of burying the telephone fiber optics until 1999.

On June 23, 2000 he and Brenda S. (Cobb) Davis were united in marriage in Colorado Springs, CO. They made Blackwell their home where they continue to reside.

He worked for Diamond Engineering for a few years and as the work moved further north, he chose to spend more time closer to home. He didn’t want to be away from home and his wife Brenda. He found the “job of his dreams” as he put it, working for Evans and Associates of Ponca City. He loved not only the job but the people there. They became a second family to him. He worked there up until his illness no longer allowed it. He truly cherished Evans and Associates Construction Company and the relationships he fostered there.Gary thoroughly enjoyed talking to people. Gary and Brenda traveled all over the United States making friends wherever they went. He cultivated friendships easily and genuinely cared about the people he met. You could always find Gary off in a corner talking to some new “stranger” and making friends. He loved his 1981 Corvette that he had bought brand new, but his most prized possessions were his Harley Davidson FORD Truck and his 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Gary greatly enjoyed going to the Bikes, Blues and BBQ at Fayetteville, Arkansas held annually every September with his biker friends. Also, a group of friends met regularly at 9 am and 3 pm every day of the year at various Blackwell meeting places. Gary highly prioritized these meetings and attended as regularly as his declining health would allow. Very important things where discussed in these coffee meetings. His most favorite time though was spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda of the home; his son Mark and wife Joni Thorpe; Daughters Vickie Thorpe; Jennifer and husband Tony Lauver; Christina and husband William “Donnie” Curfman of Ponca City, OK and son Raymond L. and wife Lori Davis of Chandler, OK; Daughter Heather A. Scott. Gary was a proud Grandpa to Taylor Brooke and husband Jay Sebor, Tylar Dean Thorpe of Ponca City, OK; Levi Gary Thorpe of Chandler, AZ; Jordan Scott, Forrest Scott, Matti Pope, Trey Cloud, Katlyn Newlin, Dillon Newlin, William Curfman, Jayden Curfman, Mason Lauver, Madison Davis, Blakley Davis, Kinleigh Davis; Rob and Susan Cockrum; and Cousin, Doris Wood, who was more like a sister to him. . Gary is also a Great Grandfather to Ryleigh Wetzel, Josie Sebor, Sawyer Sebor, Xoe Cloud, Oliver Newlin and Oaklynn M. Husted with another Great-Granddaughter due in March. He was also “Daddy” to his English Springer Spaniels Molly & Lacie.

Visitation will be held on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. January 19, 2020 with the family in attendance from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Memorial Donations may be made in Gary’s Honor to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma or to Cancer Research for Sarcoma Research.

Online Condolences can be made at www.gracememorialchapel.net

At family’s request Please wear your Harley shirt and jeans.. “That was Gary”!