Gary Don Smith

Gary Don Smith, 64, of Higgins Texas went to meet our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 6th, 2026, in Canadian Texas, after a long battle with illness. He was born November 18, 1961, in Galveston County, Texas to Donald Henry Smith and Valencia Laverne Dark. Gary was an unexpected late-life baby who meant a lot to his family. His siblings Cherie Neighbors, Sharron Goodwin, and Donald Lee Smith were 14, 13, and 9 years his senior.

Gary attended Dickinson ISD until May 1980. where he played football and ran track. During this time, he met his best childhood friend, Matt Neely, best high school friends, David McKinney and Brian Mongello, and the love of his life, Jennifer Riggs. After High School he went to work at GCWDA. His boss there would go on to be his lifelong mentor, and adult best friend, Gary Duncan. Gary and Jennifer got married on January 31, 1981, and had three children, Tommy, Rachel, and Alicia who were, in his eyes, among his greatest achievements.

Gary loved to fish or drive around on the back roads appreciating the beauty around him. He loved his family, especially spending time with his nieces Krista and Mindy, and nephews Jimmy, Donnie, Matt, and Robert. He was a lover of animals (dogs mostly) and took in many strays both canine and human alike. He was the best husband, father, brother, and friend that anyone could ask for. He taught us all to love without limits or judgment, as well as to stop and appreciate the moments and the beauty around us. In that way, he was the richest man who ever lived. He will be remembered forever for being the standard by which we all judge good men, as well as for his love of sports, nature, music, movies, good BBQ, Stephen King books, as well as all sorts of humor, both appropriate and not appropriate.

Gary was proceeded in death by his grandparents Woodrow Henry and Loretta N Smith, Henry Haynes and Madie B Dark, parents Donald Lee and Valencia Laverne Smith, parents- in- law, Charles Leon and Geraldine Marie Riggs. He was proceeded by one brother, Donald Lee Smith, a sister-in-law Deborah Ann Schoppe, two brothers- in- law, Ronald Neighbors and Bob Goodwin, his daughter Rachel Nichole Smith, and one grandson Dale Allen “Brodie” Millsap.

He is survived by his soulmate, Jennifer Kathryn Smith of Higgins Texas, two sons Gary Thomas “Tommy” Smith and Michael Bruce Tucker of Higgins, TX, a son- in- law Alvin Dain Reeves of Higgins TX, and his baby girl, Alicia Marie Millsap and partner Brandon Harrington of Gage Oklahoma, his grandchildren; Kathryn, Phoenix, Kayden and Stevie, adopted son Matthew Burgess of Hickory North Carolina, best friend Gary Duncan and wife Colleen of Higgins, TX and countless other nieces, nephews, friends and bonus children.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers can be made to WOOF Rescue of Woodward Oklahoma Address: 43450 S County Rd 206 Lot 66, Woodward, OK 73801 Phone: (580) 303-7700, or better yet, change the world for a fur baby this weekend by adopting one in his name.