Gary Lee Sons, son of Earl and Olga (Proffitt) Sons, was born in Maryville, Missouri, on July 1, 1937. He entered into eternal rest on Thursday morning, April 18, 2024, at his home in Shenandoah, Iowa, surrounded by family at the age of 86 years, 9 months, 17 days.

His early life was spent growing up in Tarkio, Missouri. Gary attended the Tarkio Community Schools for all 12 years and then attended one year at Tarkio College. Gary enlisted in the United States Army in February of 1956. After graduating from Camp Chafee, Arkansas, he served in CO F 2nd BN 4th EBTG as a combat engineer for seven years achieving the rank of Corporal before receiving an honorable discharge in 1963.

While serving in the Army, Gary was united in marriage to Lola Mae Thayer on March 21, 1959, in Fairfax, Missouri. This union was blessed with three sons, Rick, Bill, and Bob. The family lived in Fairfax until 1960 and then spent time in Sidney and Farragut, Iowa, before settling in Shenandoah in 1985.

One of his first jobs was with Brannen’s Grocery in Shenandoah. He was employed in law enforcement for 14 years. He served with the Shenandoah Police Department as an officer for eight years and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department as a Chief Deputy for six years. Gary went on to be employed by the Shenandoah School District for 24 years as a custodian and later promoted to Head of Building and Grounds before retiring in 2001 after 16 years. Not completely done, Gary drove a school bus for eight more years before fully retiring in 2009. He was currently a member of the Nishna Valley Christian Church in Shenandoah and had previously been a member of the Tarkio and Fairfax Baptist Churches. He was a longtime member of Memorial Baptist Church in Shenandoah, Iowa, where he served as a deacon. Some of his favorite pastimes were antiquing, fishing, and travel.

Preceding Gary in death were his parents, Earl and Olga Sons; parents-in-law, Isaac and Ola Thayer; sister in-law, Hope Wines; brothers-in-law, Doug and Marvin Thayer; and grandson, Adam Courtier. Left to cherish Gary’s memory are his wife, Lola Mae (Thayer) Sons; three sons, Rick Sons and wife Cindy of Fairfax, Bill Sons and wife Dena of Shenandoah, and Bob and wife Virginia of Bellevue, Nebraska; 10 grandchildren, Stephanie Neve (Steve), Devon Sons (Mikaela), James Sons (Katie), Gary Sons (Sharisse), Tim Sons (Angel), Justin Sons (Ashlyn), Kristi Spellman (Justin), Ashleigh Smith (Elliot), and William Sons (Sarah); 17 (one on the way) great-grandchildren; sister, Kathy Pennington and husband Jim of West Plains, Missouri; sister-in-law, Karen Thayer; sister-in-law, Tanya Thayer; nieces and nephews; other family members; and many friends.

Funeral services for Gary were held Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the Nishna Valley Christian Church in Shenandoah with Pastor Jack Langley, Pastor Devon Sons, and Bob Sons providing words of comfort. Special music was provided by the Sons family members, Kristi (Sons) Spellman, Ashleigh (Sons) Smith, Justin Sons, and Tim Sons. Sue Anderson and Annette Hutt served as registry attendants. Casket bearers were Jim Bob Sons, Tim Sons, Tony Sons, Billy Sons, Devon Sons, and Justin Sons. Adam Courtier (in memoriam) was an honorary casket bearer. Attending the flowers were Karen Thayer, Tanya Thayer, and Stephanie (Sons) Neve. Interment was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah with military rites accorded by the Shenandoah American Legion Post #88 and Camp Dodge Honor Guard. Memorials in Gary’s name are being directed to the Sons family for designation. Professional services were under the direction of Nishna Valley Funeral and Cremation Service in Shenandoah.