Born in Riverside, Gary was the oldest child of Barbara (Hair) and Vernon Akers and a member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma. He lived in Riverside his whole life and attended Jefferson Elementary School, Sierra Middle School, and Ramona High School. He attended RCC and ran track there. He met his wife Pat, the love of his life, while attending RCC. They were married for 55 years. He continued on to Cal Poly Pomona where he earned his Civil Engineering degree. He worked for Riverside County and the City of San Bernardino, and he owned his own business (Akers & Musser Civil Engineering and Land Surveying) with his partner Ron Musser for almost 20 years.
He loved photography and was a professional wedding photographer for several years. He loved airplanes and built and flew control-line model airplanes competitively, competing in several national championships and locally with his PAMPA Control Line group. He always loved taking the family to the local air shows and showing everyone he knew how to fly or make planes. He also proudly earned his pilot’s license.
He attended, volunteered, and taught Sunday School at Riverside Free Methodist Church (The Avenue) for 50 years. He also loved Sequoia National Park and enjoyed camping there with his family. He was a great story teller and loved telling “dad jokes” and was a friend and example to all.
He is survived by his wife, Pat (Patricia), his brother Chris (James Christopher), and his children Ann Sullivan, David Akers, and Paul Akers, as well as his grandchildren, Gunther, Audrey, and Stella Akers, Elizabeth and Michael Grant, and his great grandchildren, Charlotte, Jane, and Roland Akers.
Visitation will be held at Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary, 7944 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92504, on September 10, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Funeral Service will take place at Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary, 7944 Magnolia Ave, Riverside, CA 92504, on September 11, 2026, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, followed by the Committal Service at Olivewood Memorial Park, 3300 Central Ave, Riverside, CA 92506, on September 11, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm.
