Gary Drackett Obituary
He was born in Elizabeth City, Virginia on March 25th, 1945 to parents Retired Army Colonel Ferris J. and Barbara B. Drackett. The eldest of three siblings Gary traveled the world, eventually going to college in Germany before joining the Army as an aviator on November 4th, 1966.
Gary met and married the love of his life, Judith C. Drackett (d. 2015) while stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia in 1969.
Ltc. Gary Drackett served as a pilot in 2 tours in Viet Nam and later worked in the Strategic Command Center during the first Gulf War. He was a highly decorated aviation officer, earning the Purple Heart while in his first tour in Viet Nam. He retired from the Army on November 30th, 1991 and then went to work for the State of Florida.
He was a beloved member of the 68th Assault Helicopter Company reunion group that served to bring together the members of the company that flew UH-1 Hueys during Viet Nam.
Gary's family lovingly remembered that he was a critic of all airplane flights he took, jokingly labeling the pilots as Army, Navy, or Air Force based on the take-off and landing of the flight.
In recent years, Gary was known for wishing Happy Birthday to friends and family in as many languages as he could learn; His favorite being Hawaiian. On his last night on earth, he ended many conversations with Mele Kalikimaka.
Gary finally retired with his wife Judi in 2008 to Wesley Chapel, Florida. He loved helping his neighbors, riding his trike, sailing boats, and volunteering at this church, Bay Hope Church in Lutz, Florida.
Gary leaves behind a loving family who will cherish his memory including his daughter Michelle Drackett, son Bryan Drackett, Daughter-in-law Donna Drackett, and Son-in-law Dave Hendershot, along with grandchildren Mac and Mikayla Cotton and Jacob and Cole Drackett.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
5 Entries
Geoff Church
January 11, 2025
Geoff Church
January 11, 2025
It´s incredibly difficult to be serious when talking about my friend Gary - not because he wasn´t a serious person when the situation demanded it, but because his humor and wit were so deeply woven into who he was. Our friendship, forged at the start of 9th grade and many rides in his Anglica, stood the test of time in a way that I´m sure defies all logical explanation. Whether we were in regular contact or just catching up after a long stretch, the bond was always there, strong and unshakable.
A hallmark of Gary´s presence was his unmistakable, razor-sharp sarcasm. I know it might be hard for you to believe, but Gary could be a little sarcastic! Every phone call, every visit was peppered with teasing - gentle if you were lucky, and not-so-gentle if you weren´t.
One of my favorite memories was the trip Vicky and I made to Myrtle Beach to visit Gary and Judy. Gary, the avid pilot, insisted on taking us up in a small plane. For me, it was a delight. For Vicky? Let´s just say her knuckles were a bit white. Gary didn´t do anything wild, of course - no barrel rolls or dramatic dives - but the bumps and dips of flying in a little plane were enough excitement for her. Meeting Judy for the first time and seeing Gary in his element made that trip unforgettable.
Gary and I had an ongoing "debate" about whose turn it was to call the other. We solved it the only way we knew how - by calling at the most ridiculous times to check in. I´d pick up the phone at some ungodly hour, and there he´d be, ready to chat, joke, or just share a new phrase he´d come up with.
Gary was always inventing these catchphrases that stuck with me. Gems like:
"That idiot is taking his half of the road out of the middle."
"Great minds think alike. Then again, so do ours!"
"Our two brains together almost come up with an entire idea."
And, my favorite: "Two-thirds of a pun - PU!"
Gary wasn´t one to let anyone else have the last word, and that´s one of the many things I´ll miss about him.
We shared countless adventures, from our days as photographers for the school annual staff to driving school buses and skipping study hall to hang out in the Annual Office. (For the record, I´m pretty sure that´s why Gary always had better grades than I did.)
In high school, Gary earned the title of "Best Looking" in our senior superlatives. He wasn´t one to brag about it, but you couldn´t argue with the voters. Our group of friends, which we jokingly called "The Invincibles," included Jimmy Carroll, Paul Brown, Wally Montgomery, Roger Stroede, and me. We were an unlikely crew, spanning different schools and even including a college kid, but our bond endured. Through emails, jokes, and endless banter, we stayed close over the years.
Gary was always humble, always smiling, and always making others smile. He was one of the good ones - the kind of friend who made life better just by being in it.
From our time at the FLOOM - Fort Lee Officers Open Mess - swimming pool in the summer to cramming ourselves into a tiny "radio station" closet in the school cafeteria, to recording shows for WHAP on reel-to-reel tape, Gary and I built a lifetime of memories.
Without thinking, I know I´ll still catch myself reaching for the phone, ready to call him.
Gary, you were one of a kind. You are missed!
Sherry Heywood
January 10, 2025
Gary was very special at Bay Hope on the Tech Team. He would love to come out to the front door and try to sneak up behind me and Roxane. He had a wonderful sense of humor and I was glad to call him my friend! I know he is happy in his heavenly home with Judy! Blessings to all of you!
Vicky Church
January 8, 2025
I met Gary through Geoff in the mid sixties. He instantly accepted me into their friendship with joking, stories of their earlier time together, and shared love. That´s continued through decades. May God comfort you in this time.
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