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Gary Ronald Mackey the son of Daniel Elwood Mackey and Velva Elaine (Fox) Mackey was born on May 31, 1944, and departed this life on May 7, 2026, at his home in Copan, Oklahoma, at the age of 81.
Gary Mackey ᏥᎨᏒᎢ was known to many of his loved ones as ᎡᏚᏓ “Duda,” the Cherokee word for grandfather, and he carried that role with warmth, wisdom, and devotion. Family was at the center of his life. He deeply valued family history, Scottish heritage, the history of place, and history in all its forms. As a young man, he embraced the life and culture of a cowboy, with a love for western traditions, the music of Eddy Arnold, and dancing, which he did with remarkable skill and joy his entire life.
Gary was an artist at heart, intelligent, witty, and endlessly curious. He was a collector of stories, memories, and treasured objects, but above all, he was a caretaker of the people he loved. His generosity, humor, and steady presence left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
Gary graduated from Copan High School in 1962 and obtained a degree in Agriculture in 1966 from Oklahoma State University. He was an outstanding athlete and enjoyed playing basketball as a forward. He was a starting full back, tight end, and linebacker in football at Copan HS and went to the playoffs playing alongside his brothers Daniel and Donald. He was president of FFA and had a championship show calf. Gary Received a scholarship to OSU, where he was a starting defensive end for the freshman team.
After college, he enlisted the United States Air Force. He was in the Vietnam and Korean War and worked at the Pentagon. He received a Purple Star and Silver Heart as well as other honors while in the service. In 1973 he married Lee Foreman, and their son Ryan was born on April 11th, 1977. Gary was selected to lead the peacekeeping mission for the Seven Days War in the Middle East. It was at this time that he found out he and his wife were expecting and he turned down the mission and was reassigned to Davis Air Force Base where he retired. He moved to Oklahoma in 1981 and worked as the City Manager for Copan. In 1982 he started at Philips Petroleum as a pilot where he retired after twenty-five years. He was on the board of Dewey Western Heritage. In 2001 he received the Historian of the Year award from the Washington County Historical Association.
He is preceded in death by his father, Daniel Mackey; his mother, Velva Mackey; and his brothers Donald Elwood Mackey, Daniel Eugene Mackey, and an infant brother. Also preceding him in death are his grandparents Marvin Mackey, Ellen May (Ward) Mackey, Harry Nathan Fox, and Elmira (Smith) Fox.
Gary is survived by his son Ryan Brandon Mackey; daughter-in-law Julie (Gaches) Mackey; his grandson Agalisiga (Chuj) Mackey & wife Paloma Lopez-Mackey; his 2 great grandsons, Adawelagia Mackey-Lopez and Itztli Mackey-Lopez. He is also survived by his baby sister Marilyn Severns & husband Buddy, stepson, Darron Replogle & wife Jami, and numerous nieces and nephews, friends and family.
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