Gary Wayne Wilson

1936 - 2025

Gary Wayne Wilson, 89, of Pentwater, Michigan, went home to be with the Lord on November 16, 2025. A celebration service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at The First Baptist Church of Pentwater with Pastors Mark Lillie and Matthew Seaver officiating. Arrangements are with Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel. The family will receive visitors at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service.

Gary was born in Flint, Michigan, on 10/22/1936, the son of Margaret (Heath) and Howard Wilson and stepmother, Irene Myers Wilson. Gary is survived by his brother, Howard (Marcia) Wilson of Clio, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Dawna Wilson, Sherron Desik and Wendy Wilson. Gary married Patricia Ann Taylor on 9/15/1958 and she preceded him in death; she was the daughter of DL and Dorothy Taylor who were like parents to Gary; he was especially close to Pat's family in Texas. Gary married Carla Hittle Nugent in 1992, who survives him. Gary is survived by his children, Kimberly (DJ) Lamb of Pentwater, Michigan; Gary (Tammy) Wilson, Jr. of Smyrna, Tennessee; Toni (Jim) Glover of Pentwater, Michigan; Jeffrey (Allene) Wilson of South Haven, Michigan, and stepsons Daniel (Laura) Nugent of Pentwater, Michigan; and, Matthew (Kaitlyn) Nugent of Aberdeen, North Carolina. Gary took great pride in his family and grandchildren Dayna (Ray), Adam, Christopher (Christy), Anthony (Nathalie), Caleb, Cameron, Sean, Oliver, Atticus, and Eleanor as well as great-grandchildren Bailee, Mackenna, Rowan, Janie, Natalie, Marshall, Charlotte, Ava Kate, Alexander, and Noah, along with many nieces and nephews.

Gary graduated from Mt. Morris High School in 1954 and enlisted in the United States Air Force. During his time in the Air Force, he served in many countries around the globe such as Pakistan, Turkey, French Morocco, Newfoundland as well as in the United States. After his retirement from the Air Force in 1974, he was a police officer for the Pentwater and Hart police departments until his retirement in 1996.

Gary was an avid musician and was the youngest percussionist to play in the Flint Symphony Orchestra on tour with the Chicago Opera House. He was an active elder and member of the First Baptist Church of Pentwater and loved being a member of the praise team where he played drums. Gary loved supporting his hometown and had served on both the Pentwater village council as well as the Pentwater Public Schools' Board of Education. Some perceived Gary as grumpy but he had a teddy bear heart and an awesome sense of humor. Many teens, now adults, felt that Officer Wilson played a key role in shaping their futures in his work on the police department. Many a night, Officer Wilson would drive a teen home after an especially 'unwise' exploit and they knew that Officer Wilson cared for them and their future!

Those wishing to honor Gary may make donations in his name to the First Baptist Church of Pentwater, PO Box 429, Pentwater, MI. His family celebrates his 'homegoing' and looks forward to reuniting with him again!