Gary Ernest Westmoreland

Gary Westmoreland, age 82, long-time resident of Stillwater, Oklahoma passed away on February 26, 2025, surrounded by family and friends. Gary lived a rich and fulfilling life as a devoted Daddy, Papa, Husband, Entrepreneur, Yostie and Friend to so many.

 

Gary was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 1, 1943, to Ernest W. and Beulah Jane (Fox) Westmoreland. Gary was the youngest of three brothers. The Westmoreland family made Stillwater home in 1945 when Ernest founded E.W. Westmoreland and Sons Water Well Drilling business where all three brothers learned firsthand the value of hard work. Gary attended Stillwater schools, graduating from C. E. Donart High School in 1961. He was a standout tackle on the Stillwater Pioneer football team and many of his teammates became lifelong friends. Gary married his high school sweetheart Kay Annette Zuck in July 1962 and was married for 37 years. Gary always showed unconditional love and strength of character while raising his two beautiful daughters Christy and Cathy. Gary married Janice Faye Kroutil in June of 2002 and enjoyed a caring relationship until the time of his passing. 

 

Gary began his professional career as owner and operator of the Union Sebring Style Shop in the Student Union Building on the OSU campus. He enjoyed being a barber and built many lifelong friendships along the way. During this time, he also established Westmoreland Rentals. He went on to become the Finance and Insurance Manager at Ron Shirley Pontiac, Buick, GMC – bringing his passion and expertise to those he worked with until he retired. After ”retirement”, in true Gary fashion, he stayed busy and founded Gary’s Golf Cars. 

 

His positivity, infectious laugh and smile are some of the many reasons Gary never met a stranger and why he will be remembered by many. Nothing brought him more joy than spending time with family and friends and the memories they created will live on for generations. He instilled in his family the values of kindness, integrity and the importance of a positive attitude – qualities that continue to shape his family’s legacy. His love for camaraderie extended beyond work and family. He sponsored several trips for their church youth group and continued to support the Stillwater Pioneers by packing a van full of kids to caravan to all of the away games. His home was host to many Christmas and Super Bowl parties for the young and young at heart – as well as recruitment for the OSU Wrestling Team. He enjoyed dining out with friends and was an active member of Knife and Fork and F.A.R.T.’s. He was always a fan of both the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Dallas Cowboys but in recent years he and Jan became devoted fans of the OSU Cowgirls basketball program. He was an avid collector of antique cars, serving as President of the Antique Car Club of Stillwater and of the Corvette Club. He was a member of the First Christian Church where he served as Deacon and was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church for many years.

 

His true passion was Yost Lake. He passed the love of Yost he found as boy on to his family and his family’s families. He remained active in all-things Yost and served several terms as Board President. He will always be known as “Papa Gary” to the entire Yost Lake family. 

 

Gary is survived by his wife Jan Westmoreland, his two loving daughters, Christy Lynn Westmoreland Myers (Michael) of Rockwall, Texas and Cathy Sue Westmoreland of Edmond, Oklahoma as well as his grandchildren, Gary Michael Myers (Kelli), and Nicole Elizabeth Myers Hinckley (Andrew) and great grandchildren Jonathan Magnus Myers, Holland Maven Myers and Presley Noelle Hinckley all of Texas. He also leaves behind close family friend, Lana Franks of Edmond, as well as many close friends.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest W. Westmoreland and Beulah Jane (Fox) Westmoreland, his brothers Darrel Franklin Westmoreland and James (Jim) Carroll Westmoreland.

 

Viewing will be held at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home at 5106 N. Washington, Stillwater, Oklahoma on Friday, March 7th, from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm. Friends may visit with the family from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. 

 

A celebration of Gary’s life will be held on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Zion Lutheran Church at 504 S. Knoblock St., Stillwater, Oklahoma. Burial follows at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 6500 S. Perkins Rd, Stillwater, Oklahoma. The service will be Live Streamed for those unable to attend in person.