GARRY LEWIS OAKLEY

  Garry Lewis Oakley
Austin

Garry Lewis Oakley, age 62 passed away Thursday, January 5, 2012. He was born January 23, 1949 to Valta Cleo (Vaughn) Oakley and Lewis Henry Oakley in Ranger, TX.
Garry became a Christian at the age of 9 at Belmont Baptist Church in Abilene. He graduated from Cooper High School, Abilene, in 1967 where he played football and baseball; attended McMurry College and was a member of the Kiva Club; then transferred to Hardin-Simmons University where he was a pitcher on the baseball team, graduating in December, 1970. He majored in English and Physical Education, with a minor in Driver Education.
He married Peggy Lynn Hudson on December 4, 1971, in Lawn, TX. They moved to Austin in the summer of 1972 where he began employment with the Austin Independent School District as a Driver Education instructor. He taught at Travis, Johnston, Reagan, Austin, Anderson, Lanier and McCallum High Schools in Austin for 35 years. He taught English and Health at Travis High School. He was a physical education teacher and coach at Burnet Middle School until he retired in May, 2004. He also taught Driver Education for the Rogers Driving School.
He was a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association, a baseball umpire and football referee, and a board member of the Texas Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (TDTSEA) for many years. In 2004, he won the Gene Wilkins Honor Award for his outstanding contribution to driver education and traffic safety in Texas. He was an avid golfer, winning many trophies at the annual TDTSEA Gold Tournaments. He loved rock-n-roll and country music.
He was preceded in death by his parents; maternal grandparents Edward Stanley Vaughn and Ada Irene (Boyles) Vaughn; paternal grandparents George Henry Oakley and Talitha Jane (Lester) Oakley.
He is survived by his wife Peggy, daughter Cathy Lynn Oakley, daughter Stacy Lea Gibler and fiancé David Peters, granddaughter Abigail (Abby) Lauren Gibler, grandson Cameron Oakley Peters, and future grandson Jackson David Peters due in June, all of Austin. Also survived by brothers and sister-in-laws and several nieces and nephews.
A visitation in Tuscola will be held 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, January 9, 2012 at Fry-Bartlett Funeral Home in Tuscola, TX. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at Dewey Cemetery, Lawn, TX. The family received friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, TX. A church service was held 2:30 p.m., Sunday, January 8, 2012 at Woodlawn Baptist Church.
Family would like to express their thanks to Dr. John Dieck, Dr. Vinh Nguyen, Dr. Eric Hoenicke, Dr. Sujatha Venkatesh, Dr. Sean Gilbey, and the nursing staff and care technicians in the CVRU, ICU, and IMC units of South Austin St. David's Hospital, Abiding Home Health Staff, Nucara Pharmacy Staff, and Hospice Austin.