Gary Ray Outenreath
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Gary Ray Outenreath, 73, of Orange, Texas passed away on January 17, 2021 at Harbor Hospice in Lake Charles. Gary was born on April 7, 1947 in Fort Worth, Texas. He was the son of Ret. Major Bobby R. Outenreath and Katherine Dale (Smith) Outenreath.
Gary's mother shared that he was a sweet and peaceful child full of curiosity for the world around him. Because Gary's father was serving in the United States Air Force, Gary spent part of his childhood living in Germany and France. When his family returned to the United States, Gary lived near Vandenburg Air Force Base in California and Carswell Air Force Base in Ft. Worth, Texas. Gary loved to tell his children and grandchildren about camping, fishing, and playing football as a youth. Gary graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas in 1965. He then attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry. Gary married his college sweetheart, Rebecca (Becky) Lynn Harrell, on June 13, 1970. Gary devoted the next 47 years of his life to his wife, children, grandchildren, and to his career. Gary was exceptionally loving and patient. He was intelligent, insightful and had a quick-witted humor. He enjoyed joking and teasing family and friends. When not working in his oasis of a yard, Gary loved working crossword puzzles, going fishing, and visiting with family and friends. Gary also loved watching historical documentaries, science fiction programs, and college football on television (especially Longhorn football). Gary loved his wife, daughters, and grandchildren and willingly participated in scouts, youth softball and baseball, science fair projects, family reunions, and sharing his love for traveling and nature. Perhaps a better display of his love was the time he spent watching swim meets, attending band concerts or musicals, surviving slumber parties, or going to dance recitals. Gary lovingly stood by his wife's side, supporting her as she fought many health conditions. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013, Gary was brave; he never complained, and he fought hard. Gary and Becky were members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Orange Texas. They volunteered together providing altar service and helped plan the church's memorial garden.
Gary worked in the field of horticulture for over 40 years. His first position after graduating from college was Superintendent of the Tyler Rose Garden in Tyler, Texas. Gary worked as a horticultural consultant for Busch Gardens. After Busch Gardens, Gary worked on multiple landscape management projects including the 5,000 acre Las Colinas development in Irving, Texas. In October of 1991, Gary became the Horticultural Exhibits Manager at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. Gary was instrumental in the botanical development of the grounds and the 10-story-tall Rain Forest Pyramid. In the pyramid, he recreated the rainforests of Asia, Africa, and The Americas. After dedicating 13 years to Moody Gardens, Gary joined a new botanical project, Shangri La, in Orange, Texas. This land had been neglected for 50 years. Gary played an essential role in restoring Shangri La to a botanical garden and nature center dedicated to education. He was also responsible for overseeing the landscaping at multiple Stark Foundation properties in Orange. Gary's last career project was rejuvenating The Beaumont Botanical Gardens in Beaumont, Texas after Hurricane Ike. As Director of Horticulture, Gary worked to restore the oldest public garden in Southeast Texas to a sanctuary of flora that includes a 23.5-acre outdoor garden containing multiple themed gardens and an indoor conservatory. Throughout his career, Gary loved and enjoyed the people with whom he worked. He made many lifelong friends, and he cherished those friendships.
Gary was involved in numerous professional organizations, gave many presentations promoting landscape ideas, and taught horticulture and landscape classes at Houston Community College. Gary served as a contributing author to Houston Home and Garden Magazine and The Dallas-Fort Worth Home and Garden Magazine. Gary co-authored The Houston Garden Book. A species of Wedelia, a creeping daisy, is named "Outenreath Gold" after Gary.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Bobby and Katherine Outenreath, and his wife of 49 years Rebecca Lynn Outenreath, his grandparents, his in-laws, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Left to forever cherish his memory are daughter Margaret (Betsy) Outenreath Merritt and husband Travis Merritt of Bell City, Louisiana; daughter Mary (Kate) Katherine Outenreath and partner Gerry Proctor of Las Vegas, Nevada; brother Robert Outenreath and wife Nancy Outenreath of San Rafael, California; nephew Jason Outenreath of San Francisco, California; grandchildren Hayden, Jackson and Kaitlyn Lester of Bell City, Louisiana; brother-in-law Forest Harrell and wife Peg Harrell of McKinney, Texas; numerous cousins from Cleburne, Texas, Archer City, Texas, and the DFW areas; many special family members from the McGuff clan living throughout Texas; and many friends, neighbors, and former colleagues.
A memorial service will be held later when family and friends are able to gather and appropriately celebrate the wonderful life of Gary R. Outenreath. Please email [email protected] if you would like notification of the service. Special thanks to Harbor Hospice in Lake Charles for exceptional care and to The Brain Support Network, Carnes Funeral Home in Texas City, TX, and Harbor Hospice for their help and collaboration in organizing tissue donation for medical research. The family would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the nurses and staff at Stonebridge Assisted Living in Sulphur, Louisiana and the many kind and loving doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists who provided care and therapy. Cremation is entrusted to Carnes Funeral Home.
The family appreciates memorial donations made in Gary's name to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Orange, Texas (1401 W. Park Ave. Orange, TX 77630) for their memorial garden, The Brain Support Network (brainsupportnetwork.org) which facilitates tissue donations for the purpose of studying brain disorders like Parkinson's Disease, or The Trees Remember (thetreesremember.com/memorial-trees).