Memorial service for SSG (Retired) Gary Lee Sills, Sr. will be 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 19, 2019 at the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain (MAJ) Patricia Nichols, Fort Sill, Oklahoma officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma.

SSG (Retired) Gary Lee Sills, Sr., 62, Lawton, died Thursday, July 4, 2019 in Lawton.  He was born August 1, 1956 in Blackwell, Oklahoma to Robert Arnold and Doris Lee (Pritchett) Sills. Gary's family moved to Miami, Oklahoma where Gary graduated from high school and was a state champion wrestler.  Gary's dog, Sid, was the school mascot. Gary was bestowed the nickname "Garhead" by his childhood friends and he's been called that ever since by them. Following high school, Gary served his country with the United States Army from 1975 until his retirement in 1996 earning the following awards; Army Commendation Medal (5th award), Army Achievement Medal (4th award), Army Good Conduct Medal (6th award), National Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3rd award), Expert Markmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar//Expert, and Markmanship Qualification Badge with Grenade Bar. While in the Army, Gary's specialties were as a Field Artillery Surveyor, a Cannon Crewmember, and as a Lance Crewmember.

Gary loved many outdoor activities including hiking, camping, fishing, working with wood, and was an avid Oklahoma Sooner football fan. He loved spending time with his kids and especially all of his grandkids. They were his life.

Gary is survived by former wife, Andrea "Sweet Cheeks" Hives, four children, Michaela Smelley and husband SFC (Retired) Bradley Smelley of Buda, Texas, Shannon Jolly and husband Joshua of Fort Dix, New Jersey, son, Gary Lee Sills, Jr. of Lawton, daughter, Stephanie Hoover and husband Ronald of Lawton, 14 grandchildren, Cadence Haywood, Christopher Smelley, SPC Devon Smelley, Carlie Smelley, Cason Smelley, Dayton Smelley, Makena Smelley, Madilyn Downs, Rylee Jolly, Joshua Jolly, Jr., Hunter Jolly, Ashton Hoover, Hudson Hoover, and Triston Hoover on the way, four great grandchildren, Addison, Tanner, Ayden and Baby Oakleigh on the way, two brothers, Robert Arnold Sills, Jr. of Arizona and Michael L. Sills and wife Pam of Missouri and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents.