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Gerald Paul Sturgeon entered his eternal home in Glory on April 18, 2025, in Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas, at the age of 81.
Born on December 1, 1943, in Okeene, Oklahoma, Gary lived a full and faithful life marked by integrity, hard work, and love for his family. He endured Alzheimer’s disease in his later years. As his memory faded, his heart grew more tender, and his affection for others deepened.
At just 12 years old, Gary began working as a package boy at Wyatt Food Store in Waxahachie, a job that marked the beginning of his lifelong dedication to hard work. Even after retirement, his mind never stopped thinking about work. He often offered unsolicited business advice to others and remained concerned with profit and loss.
He continued working at Wyatt’s throughout high school and while attending Southwestern Assemblies of God College and the University of Texas at Arlington. His commitment and leadership led to a long and successful career with The Kroger Company, where he served as store manager at several locations. He was later promoted to the main offices, where he worked under the Vice President of the Dallas division. He retired from Kroger after more than 40 years of dedicated service.
After retirement, Gary moved to his cherished lake house in West Tawakoni, Texas, where family and friends were at the heart of everything he did. Whether it was taking loved ones on endless Jeep rides, having fun at the lake, or making memories at Chuck E. Cheese and Dave & Buster’s, Gary found great joy in having fun and creating moments of laughter and adventure with those he held close. He worked tirelessly throughout his life to build the future he dreamed of, and one of his greatest pleasures was sharing the rewards of that hard work.
He enjoyed several wonderful years at the lake until he was no longer able to care for himself. He then spent time in a local assisted living facility, where he was deeply unhappy. In 2023, his daughters purchased a home in Waxahachie and arranged for full-time care. Despite the dementia, Gary still remembered his time in assisted living and often expressed how thankful he was to be back in a caring home. His devoted caregiver, Jakob McComas, provided him with compassion, dignity, and companionship during his final season of life. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by love.
Gary is survived by his former spouse and the mother of his children, Jeanette Stoffregen, and by their three daughters, Lisa Ricketts and husband David, Vicki Thompson and husband Troy, and Anjanette Jones and husband Carey. He was a proud grandfather to his grandsons, Joshua Ricketts, Jonathan Ricketts, and Hayden Jones, and to his granddaughters, Kayla Arnold and husband Peter; Kimberly Mecom and husband Zac, parents of Howard Mecom and Kenneth Mecom; Elizabeth Ricketts, mother of Ryder Willis; and Casey Jones. He is also survived by his brother, Jerry Sturgeon and wife Nancy; his sisters, Sheryl Boettiger and husband Richard, Sherry Wolf and husband Sieg, and Shauna Brewer and husband David; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Maxine Sturgeon.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Freedom Fellowship International Assembly of God, 507 N. Highway 77, Waxahachie, Texas.
"Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21)
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