Gary Lynn Smith

Gary Lynn Smith, a healthy, handsome baby boy, bounced into the lives of Willie Fay Smith and Mary Emma (Sipes) Smith in Jacksonville, Texas on July 19, 1956. He greeted his delighted parents and proceeded to delight them many times with his ready smile and rambunctious ways. Gary fully trusted Jesus Christ to be his Savior and was carried to his gracious and faithful Heavenly Father on October 24, 2025. He lived an active 69 years.

Gary was the second of three sons born to Willie and Mary. When he was young, everyone knew him as Lynn – and his brothers by their "L" names (Laurie, Lynn and Laird) as well. Gary was ever eager to play in water, mud, dirt...wherever there was fun and, typically, wherever his older brother was. The two were nearly inseparable and usually wrestling. In his teen years, Gary's family lived in Calgary, Alberta and Gary skillfully and enthusiastically added hockey to his pursuits of football, wrestling and rugby. He would briefly enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces and would later be employed in forestry in northwestern Montana. Upon returning to Texas as a young man, Gary would be employed for many years in the seasoning manufacturing industry.

For years Gary chose not to own a motor vehicle, choosing to ride a bicycle to work on the very busy northwest Dallas roads and expressways. Perhaps this may not be the prime choice of transportation for the reader (or for the reader's safety), but Gary thoroughly enjoyed it. And in 2002, he began his own business in bicycle sales and service. Gary would almost always be busy at his shop or enjoying something like a 75-mile "Hotter than Hell" ride on his bike with friends in north Texas in the August heat. When he moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2009, he started his new bike business, TLC for Bikes. His expert skill, get-it-done commitment and business integrity – and his ready grin – made him valued and popular with his many customers. He would readily repair an inexpensive big-box steel frame bike with as much care and craftsmanship as he would a lightweight, supremely expensive top-end carbon-fiber import from Italy. Because he was truly honest and easy to get along with, his customers often enjoyed his company on extensive rides in the Piedmont. Long, long, long rides through the hills with friends, hair flying in the wind...that was Gary. (That is, until there was no hair to fly. When he cut his longer-than-shoulder-length hair and went clean shaven on top, well, that was the end of an era. But he had a great looking dome.)

Gary was the perfect mix of humility and fun and was readily welcomed into family get-togethers as the cool uncle. Always ready to play with the kids, to roughhouse, to joke, to dispense wisdom. His nieces and nephew adored him and were always eager to see him. And if you liked classic 70s rock or rockabilly and especially if you liked cowboy and Indian movies from the 30s or 40s, well, Gary was your man. Gary was also known as an excellent cook able to produce the perfect sweet potato dish for Thanksgiving or even a standing rib roast worthy of competing with any nearby 5-star restaurant.

Gary is survived by his father, Willie Fay Smith and brother Keith Laird Smith (Debra), Aunt Joy Jackson (Wayland), nieces and nephew Katherine Anne Smith (Chris), Elyssa Lynnette Smith (Kasey), Kurt Erik Smith (Maddy) and Lacey Nicole Morgan (Jonah), great-nieces and great-nephews Atreus Jordan Smith, Henrietta "Etta" Lynn Smith, Indigo Charlotte "Lottie" Smith, Jericho Lee Morgan, Oliver Wayne Morgan and cousins Sharon Grimm (Bill), Andrew Grimm (Cassie), Johnny King, Cindy Nash, Jim Nash, Cathy Nelson (Ira), Carla Kennedy and Sherry Wallace (Tim). Gary's friend and business partner, Wendy Stevens, was a big part of Gary's life. Gary also was very important to, was blessed by and blessed the lives of Janis and Shaun, Austin and Cameron. Cameron especially devoted a great amount of time to caring for Gary and making his final months on this world full of love.

A guestbook may be signed at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.