Gary Paul Mixon

Gary Paul Mixon, 77, of Harrah went to be with the Lord on September 5, 2024. He was born December 25, 1946, in Harrah to Loyd and Lois (Ladd) Mixon. He grew up in Harrah and graduated from Harrah High School in 1965. Gary graduated from Oklahoma State University in January of 1970 and while attending OSU, he completed four years of Air Force ROTC and immediately upon graduation, was commissioned a 2ndLt. And was ordered to report for pilot training at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, TX.

Gary was baptized on September 14, 2008. He loved the Lord and tried to live the remainder of his life in a way so as to bring Honor and Glory to God. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Harrah.

Gary retired from the Air Force as a full Colonel in 2001 and continued to work for the Air Force in a civilian capacity until his retirement in February 2008. While in uniform, Gary spent virtually his entire career with Air Force Flying Wings and the last 10 years in Squadron and then Group Command positions. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Vietnam and the Legion of Merit upon retirement also, from 1976, through 1990, Gary and his wife Barbara owned and operated a successful landscape maintenance business in the Oklahoma City area.

Gary was passionate regarding community service, the local City Hall and local government, what he called “grassroots” Democracy. He believed the local City Hall is where democracy starts. He served a term on the Harrah Planning Commission and was elected to two back-to-back four-year terms on the Harrah Board of Trustees.

Gary loved libraries and books and as Harrah’s Mayor, was instrumental in establishing the Harrah Library as a part of the Metropolitan Library System that serves Oklahoma County. He also got involved with the Friends of the Metropolitan Library System in 2002 and served one term on their Board of Directors. He also volunteered his time and worked at the annual Friends of the Metropolitan Library Booksale since 2002.

Gary was a “closet” rhyme poet most of his life with his official file in an edition of the 1969 Newsweek Magazine. Much later in life, he had some success collaborating with others to work his poems into lyrics with music and some songs were recorded. Gary very much enjoyed the YMCA activities and loved spending time with family and friends. He especially enjoyed special times with his son Andy and daughter-in-law Tracey.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Loyd and Lois Mixon and a brother Mike Mixon.

Survivors include his son Andy and wife Tracey of Kingston and a brother Ron and wife Kristen Mixon and their family of Harrah.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Sept.13, at First Baptist Church of Harrah, followed by interment in Memory Lane Cemetery.

Funeral Arrangements are in the care of Asa Smith Funeral Service of Harrah. Tributes and condolences may be posted on the funeral home website wwwasasmith.net