Gary Lee Marks

Gary had a gregarious soul with a spirit of adventure and resilience that was instilled in him from birth and endured through the sudden illness that ultimately claimed his life.

He was born into poverty in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the youngest of six children. His devoted mother, Carol, encouraged him to dream of a better life. After graduating from high school in 1969, Gary was drafted and joined the United States Marine Corps - a decision that shaped his identity and led him to meet his wife, Rebecca, that same year. He married Becky in 1973 and became the first in his family to earn a college degree, graduating from Penn State University in 1977.

Gary was an adoring husband and a devoted father. He loved his family with every fiber of his being and instilled in his daughters, Rachel and Christina, the same spirit of adventure, drive for a better life, and unshakable belief that they could be anything they dreamed - even if it wasn't in the Marine Corps. He loved travel, history, and home improvement. No project was too big or too labor-intensive, and his yard was always a source of personal pride.

Gary never met a stranger. Thousands of people around the world had their family photo taken by him; he had a personal mission to include men in their own family pictures. He sparked joy with his jokes, and loved laughter, celebration, and friends. He knew how to throw a party but was also the first to show up in a crisis. Gary was soft-hearted, frequently interceding on behalf of the helpless and was extraordinarily sentimental. No two pugs were ever loved more than Samson and Delilah.

After retiring, Gary moved to Abilene to be closer to Christina and her children. His six grandchildren knew him as "Ra Ra," and he began an annual beach trip each July - a tradition his family cherished more than anything. He volunteered for years at local food pantries and ministered to the incarcerated at the Abilene jail until his health declined. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus and played intense cribbage games with Becky and close friends.

Gary is survived by his wife of 52 years, Rebecca (née Daniels); his daughter Rachel Kammeyer (née Marks) and her husband David Kammeyer, and their three children: William, Bridget, and Genevieve; his daughter Christina Boyd (née Marks), her husband Cory Boyd, and her three children: Jacob, Eliana, and Simon Rucker; his brother-in-law, John Dechert, and John's children: Jill, Jeff, and Joel Dechert; his niece and nephew, Cindy and Bern Hammer; his niece, Vickie Keller; his nephew and niece, David and Michelle Marks; his niece and nephew, Donna and Rick Gerber; and his nephew, Jay Marks.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jack Marks and Hershey Glenn Marks, and his sisters, Betty Schies (née Marks), Joan Dechert (née Marks), and Beverly Keller (née Marks).

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family kindly requests donations to Loaves & Fishes of Abilene. Contributions will be collected via GoFundMe and delivered to the organization by check.

Visitation will be held at Elmwood Funeral Home Chapel, 5750 Hwy 277 South, Abilene, Texas on Monday July 28,2025, 6:00PM - 7:00PM and a rosary will start at 7:00PM - 8:00PM. Funeral services will be Tuesday July 29, 2025 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 5401 Buffalo Gap Rd., Abilene, Texas at 9:30 AM. Interment will follow at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, 7457 West Lake Rd., Abilene, Texas at 11:00 AM.