John Chris Gavras

John Chris Gavras of Norman, OK, passed away September 15, 2025, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his two sons Chris Gavras and wife Sally of Fort Worth, TX, and Craig Gavras and wife Monica of Norman, OK, and his three grandchildren Peyton Gavras, Camryn Gavras and Kendyll Gavras, all of Norman, OK.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years DiAnna Gavras, his father Chris Gavras, his mother Erma Gavras, his brother Leon Gavras and his sister Marian Johnson.

Born in Henryetta, OK, on January 4 , 1941, John graduated from Henryetta High School where he was a member of the Henryetta Fighting Hens football team. He graduated from Oklahoma State University where he was a member of the Army ROTC program. Upon graduation, he entered the US Army as a Second Lieutenant. He was stationed in Belleville, IL, where he was the commander of a Nike missile battery during the Cold War. He was promoted to First Lieutenant before his honorable discharge.

John began his career in hospital association work in 1970 as Director of Finance for the Oklahoma Hospital Association. He later moved to Chicago, IL, to become Director of Membership for the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

In 1976 John became President of the Dallas Hospital Council. In 1978 he joined local hospital CEOs in expanding the council to include Fort Worth, officially changing the name to the Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council. During his tenure as CEO, John served on the Texas State Commission for Emergency Communications which resulted in statewide 911 emergency communications, created the GroupOne Background Screening Services for hospitals, and was instrumental in the creation of the DFWHC Foundation and its Data Initiative. After 31 years with the DFWHC, John and DiAnna retired and moved to Norman, OK, to be closer to their grandchildren.

John and DiAnna loved living in Norman and could be found at every event involving their grandchildren, including T-ball, pom, dance and, of course, baseball and football. His most treasured times were spent with his family, especially the grandchildren.

John was a huge OU fan from childhood when he attended games in the 1950s watching Bud Wilkinson coached teams, followed by the Chuck Fairbanks, Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops eras. He had season tickets for 50 years and was the happiest when OU won and he could celebrate with the grandchildren, all OU graduates.

One of John's quiet passions was helping the small town of Vernon, OK, just south of Henryetta. Every year he and DiAnna took Christmas gifts and dinner baskets to the families. One holiday season as the gifts and dinner were being distributed, the family recalls a small child yelling to his family that "Santa Claus is coming this year." John lived by the saying "giving is better than receiving."

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice or to one of John's favorite charities:

Fort Worth nonprofit, Lean Pope, in support of their early childhood learning centers and initiatives. www.lenapope.org/donate

3200 Sanguinet Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107