Gary Stout

Gary Linn Stout was born July 28, 1946, at Cherokee Masonic Hospital to Evelyn Bernice Benefiel Stout and James Willard Stout Sr. He joined his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 20, 2025, after sustaining a head injury from a minor fall.

Gary grew up on the family farm between Lambert and Yewed with his older brother, James and two younger sisters, Nancy and Rosemary. After high school and technical school, Gary married Jo Ann McClaflin on October 1, 1966. On October 24, 1966 he was drafted into the U. S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia and became a combat medic. He was proud of his military service and a proud patriot.

Gary graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva with a degree in Conservation Law Enforcement in 1974. He spent time as a park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park during summers in the 1970s then joined the Alva Police Department. Gary and Jo Ann were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Shawna Linn in 1977 and Jennifer Jo in 1979. In 1981, Gary became the Chief of Campus Security at NWOSU which led to the position, Chief of Campus Police over three campuses.

Gary enjoyed spending time as a mechanic and in the 1980s,he and Jo Ann owned stock cars which they took to various local dirt tracks to race. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping and taking his two girls with them whenever he could.

After his retirement in 2002, Gary traveled and took camp host jobs at various camp grounds. By the grace of God, in May 2005, Gary survived stage three renal cancer and his belief in the power of prayer and his loving relationship withJesus was renewed.

Being single again, Gary was blessed to find a woman to share many of his interests in life. He and Sara were married August 15, 2012 and together they made their home on Gary’s family farm. There they lived happily together for twelve years and seven months.

Gary had been baptized into College Hill Church of Christ nearly 35 years ago and his relationship with Christ has continued to grow deeper and stronger. He loved to go to church to worship Christ and sing hymns, rarely missing a Sunday service. When traveling, he would find a local Church of Christ and attend worship. He invited others to church, working to bring more people to be involved in Helena Church of Christ. He loved to see your face at church singing songs of worship!

Gary is preceded in death by his mother, father, brother, and his niece.

Gary is survived by his wife, Sara; his sisters, Nancy Harmon of Cherokee and Rosemary Stout of Lambert; his daughter, Shawna Springer and husband, Todd of Helena and their sons, Dawson, Cayde, Cameron, and Alex; his daughter, Jennifer Greve and husband, Christopher of Alva and their sons, Arek and Bodin; step-daughter, Allesa Ewell and husband, Allen of Randolf, Kansas and their children, Megan and Joe Coffman and Ryanne and Thomas Bryan; step-daughter, Alana Phillips and husband, Rick of Mena, Arkansas and their children, Taylor and Nick Moran and Holly Phillips; step-son, Allen Bird and his wife, Raye Lyn of Alvaand their children, Madison and Jeremiah Campbell, Cheney and Ryan Schaeffer, and Liberty and Nick Forsythe. He is also survived by six great grandbabies and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

There will be a service to celebrate Gary’s life on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Helena Church of Christ. Burial will be in Cherokee Municipal Cemetery. Viewing will be prior to service on Wednesday beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc of Helena. www.lanmanmemorials.com Facebook Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials may be made to his beloved Helena Church of Christ through the funeral home.