Gary Lynn Sanderson

Funeral services for Gary Sanderson will be 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Chris Ruwaldt officiating. Burial will follow in the Alva Municipal Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Gary Lynn, son of Lynn Perry and Norma Jean (Schreiner) Sanderson, was born March 20, 1963, at Thomas, Oklahoma, and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 14, 2025, at Alva, at the age of 61 years, 11 months, and 22 days. Gary lived in Canton and graduated from Canton High School and later graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a Law Enforcement degree. After college he was hired by the Alva Police Department where he worked as the Assistant Police Chief. His last nine years he was promoted to Police Chief, retiring after 30 years of service with the Alva Police Department. In January of 1989, he was united in marriage to Darlene Russ at Alva. Through the marriage, he gained a daughter, Angela, who he adored. He attended the First Baptist Church with Darlene. He was also a lifetime member of the NRA. He enjoyed hunting turkey, wild hogs, and deer. Gary had a green thumb and could grow anything. Whatever he planted such as flowers, trees, or shrubs always thrived under his care. Gary loved his career in law enforcement. Friends and family also saw his “old soul” and homebody side. They were amused and accustomed to the result of his spending a large amount of time next door at his Grandma’s house watching John Wayne movies and eating chocolate shakes with her. He acquired some of her quaint expressions such as calling his shoes “slippers”, his coat or jacket his “shawl” and his eye glasses were “spectacles”. To know Gary well was to form a friendship for life, to love him and to know he could always be counted on in time of need. His father, Lynn, preceded him in death. Gary is survived by his wife of 36 years, Darlene, of Alva; his daughter, Angela Holcomb and husband, Shannon, of Lowell, Arkansas; two grandsons, Tyler Whetstone and Jenilee of Rogers, Arkansas, and Chance Holcomb of Lowell; a great granddaughter, Josephine Whetstone; mother, Norma Jean Sanderson of Canton; brother, Dale Sanderson of Canton; sisters, Linda Fields of Seiling, and Susan Pannell and husband, Todd, of Longdale; and many friends. Gary was a strong, brave warrior against the monster named Cancer. He defied the odds and statistics of Gliosarcoma Brain Cancer and was in remission after 6 years. MDS and AML proved to be too much with Gary finally saying, "Enough. I'm tired." Our very painful loss is Heaven's gain. Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to Tunnel to Towers or the Shriners Children's Hospital.. Remembrances may be shared with the family at www.marshallfuneralhomes.com.

Gary Lynn Sanderson

March 20, 1963 - March 14, 2025