Garrettson "Garry" Franklin Gourley

In many ways, Garry's life story reads like a novel- the epic story of a worldwide adventurer. He loved to travel and experience new places- something he did extensively throughout his life. Even more, he loved to immerse himself in new cultures and truly experience new ways to live and enjoy life. This is something he did in an diverse mix of countries, ranging from Germany, Ethiopia, Egypt, Turkey, Malta, and more in between. At times, the family would gather around the Super 8 projector-did I mention that Garry was an avid photographer and videographer?!- and watch home movies, like the one of baboons tearing apart the family's campsite at Lake Langano in Ethiopia. Don't worry, no one was harmed, not even the baboons! It was obvious from the numerous stories, pictures, and videos that Garry loved living overseas and building new friendships wherever his adventures took him. At the same time, however, he always remained an American at heart.

Two major themes guided Garry's path through life: service to his country and a love of airplanes. Even when he joined the U.S. Army as a young man, he finagled a job as an airplane mechanic ... in a service not known for its numerous airplanes! After completing his Army enlistment and a brief civilian intermission, he enlisted in the Air Force and never looked back. If you know Garry at all, then you know that he loved airplanes and flying. He made the most of every opportunity in the Air Force, both on the ground and in the air, by expanding his skills as an aircraft mechanic and becoming a flight engineer. Always one to shoulder his share of the burden, Garry volunteered for combat duty in Vietnam and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his numerous combat missions in an AC-119 gunship over Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos... duty he remained immensely proud of over the course of his life. Garry even nearly got me to enroll in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). He called the commander, and after a health dose of Garry's gift of the gab, my path to an Air Force commission was all laid out! Unfortunately for him, I was a soldier to the core, and it was Army ROTC for me. Even after leaving the Air Force, he continued to travel the world as an aircraft mechanic for Beech Aerospace Services, Inc or BASI [spoken out as Bassee].

As a human being, Garry was outgoing, engaging, and enjoyed a good laugh. As mentioned above, he had a gift for small talk and could charm most anyone into seeing the world as he did. I'm fairly certain he exercised the skill on me a few times! I also believe he enjoyed entertaining others. He and his first wife Lee Anne were certainly known for their BASI bash parties, but that wasn't the extent of it. As a young man, Garry worked as an underwater clown, in full clown costume, and as a professional dancer, a skill he picked up from his mother. It may seem hard to believe, but I've seen the photos! It must have been quite a sight to see him dazzle on the dance floor and make children laugh at the park.

Garry was an extremely hard worker and dedicated to providing for his wife and four children. Due to the meager enlisted pay at the time, he often had to hold down a second or even third job to make ends meet. I remember him telling me how he would hurry home to change out of his uniform and head back out the door to his evening job. He even once worked as a pin setter at a bowling alley on weekends, a job that placed him close to a sport he greatly enjoyed. Between all these commitments, he still found time to earn a pilot’s license, a resource he used occasionally to earn money as well. I don't know if Garry had a smile on his face while working so hard, but he certainly did it without complaint. If this is not dedication to his family, I don't know what is. And, eventually, the hard work paid off, and he and Lee Ann achieved a comfortable living and secure future. Unfortunately, he lost Lee Anne to Alzheimer's far too early in life, and they never got to enjoy the nest egg they had built together.

On August 31, 2017, Garry married Wanda Britt in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Together, they cruised and explored nearly every country in the world, completing three around-the- world trips. They eagerly shared the thousands of photos Garry took and continued traveling as long as their health allowed. In September 2019, they moved to El Mirage, Arizona, next door to Wanda's daughter Susan and her husband, Ron. In October 2023, Garry and son-in-law (also retired from the Air Force) were selected to be on the Arizona Honor Flight program for veterans. This amazing trip for 25 veterans and their escorts included 3 days of visiting all the Memorials in the DC area.

In November 2023 they moved to an assisted living facility in nearby Surprise, Arizona. Garry enjoyed getting around in his motorized wheelchair and playing poker and bingo with fellow residents. His favorite card game was Texas Hold'em, which he played very well.

In his poem "Requiem," Stevenson paints us a picture of a life lived gladly and an end faced without regret, with the sailor returned from the sea and the hunter home from the hills. Garry lived, worked, and served with passion, soaking up experiences and sharing them with those whom he loved. This pilot's long flight is over, he has landed, and he is finally home.

Garry is survived by three children from his first marriage-Stephen, Ranya, and Kathryn-and was preceded in death by his daughter Elizabeth. He is also survived by Wanda, her daughter Susan, and Susan's husband, Ron.

The family would like to thank the staff at Fellowship Square and United Hospice Care. They were all great and took amazing care through the end of Garry's journey. He will be missed tremendously. Rest in Peace.

A Celebration of Life and Committal with Military Honors will be held at Pikes Peak National Cemetery at 10545 Drennan Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80925 and will be announced by family at a future date.