Gary Douglas Knowls

Gary was a quiet man whose life spoke clearly for him. He was a true gentleman, generous, kind, loving, and deeply good. He treated people with genuine warmth and respect, and anyone who knew him could attest to the goodness of his heart. Those fortunate enough to be loved by Gary knew it. He loved deeply, faithfully, and without needing attention for doing so.

Family came first.

Gary was the son of Shirley Faye Hyde and Allen Floyd Knowls Jr. He built a life centered on the people he loved, including friendships that endured across decades. He believed in showing up, staying connected, and treating people with kindness.

A mechanical engineer by profession, Gary spent much of his career working in the oil industry, including a proud chapter with Texaco. He later moved into management and entrepreneurship, but his engineering mind never left him. Gary understood how things worked. From industrial mixers to whatever happened to be broken nearby, he was the person who knew how to fix it.

Away from work, Gary loved the lake, reading, and spending time with his family and friends. He also appreciated the good things in life, especially Blue Bell Banana Pudding and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream, Vicky's sweet treats, and a cold beer.

His faith ran deeply through his life. Gary did not need grand declarations to demonstrate what he believed. He lived his faith through the way he treated people. His kindness, generosity, gentleness, and devotion to those he loved reflected the heart of God in ordinary life.

Gary was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ellise Couvillon Knowls, and his parents, Shirley Faye Hyde and Allen Floyd Knowls Jr.

Gary is survived by his five children and their families: his son Daniel, his wife, Kristen, and their son, Cameron, of Ohio; his daughter Deborah and her sons, Trenton and Wesley, of Oklahoma; his daughter Brandy and her children, Brooklynn, Carson, and Elijah, of Oklahoma; his son Lorne, his partner, Sarah, and their children, Liam, Sophia, and Emily, of Texas; and his son Chandler, his wife, Samantha, and their children, Yadirah, Yashari, and Jack, of Oklahoma.

He also leaves devoted cousins in Texas who were more like siblings — Vicky Lobue, Marissa Lobue, Kay and Grant Gaumer, and Chelsea Lobue Zimmerhanzel — along with treasured friends whose relationships with him spanned decades. He is remembered too by his former wife, Tess, with whom he shared ten years of marriage and a friendship that endured well beyond it.

Gary remained deeply connected to members of Ellise's family, including his mother-in-law, Virgie Acosta; David Couvillon and his wife, Peggy; Michael Couvillon; Jeanette Haught and her husband, Mike; and Edward Couvillon and his wife, Cindy.

There will be no formal service.

Gary was so loved, by so many, across so many different parts of his life — and he requested each of them to find their own way of saying goodbye, in their own time, without the need for formality.

Perhaps the clearest measure of his life is this: people who knew Gary knew goodness. They knew a man who loved his family, kept his friendships, gave generously, spoke gently, and lived his faith in the way he treated another human being.

He leaves behind many people who will miss him deeply, and a lifetime of evidence that a quiet, kind man can leave an extraordinary amount of love behind. He didn't need to be the loudest voice in the room to be the steadiest one in it. He simply loved well, and let that be enough — and it was more than enough. It was everything.