Gary K. Nellis, of McKinney, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 10, 2017. Mr. Nellis had bravely fought various medical conditions for several years before his battles ended. He passed away, surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Nellis was a devout Christian and a pillar of strength and faith for his family and friends, and he was a long-time member of Waples Methodist Church in Denison. Admired and respected by all who met him, Mr. Nellis retired from the Union Pacific (formerly the Katy) Railroad, where he received special commendations and awards many times over his nearly forty year employment there. A respected executive for the railroad, Mr. Nellis progressed in title from "Office Boy" as a 19 year old to "Director of Auditing of Car Accounts."
Mr. Nellis was born September 6, 1936 in Parsons, Kansas to Maxine Dunivant and Hubert Locke. He attended and graduated from Parsons High School (1954) and later earned both an Associate's Degree from Grayson College and a Bachelor's of Science in Business from East Texas State University (1973). He moved from Parsons to Denison in 1957, when the Katy moved its operations and worked there until 1962, at which time he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served is country until 1964, whereupon he was granted an Honorable Discharge and a glowing commendation by Col. Benjamin C. Chapla (Infantry). Mr. Nellis returned to work for the Katy in 1964 and did so for the rest of his working life, retiring from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1993.
He married and is survived by Repsie Rhea, his loving and devoted wife, in 1968, and they were just months from celebrating their 49 year anniversary. He was the proud and very devoted father of William Nellis and Karis Schirmer, the involved and loving grandfather of Lindsay Ann Nellis, William Gary Nellis II, and Repsie Jamison, and the similarly proud great grandfather of Karis Jamison and Jack Jamison. Also surviving Mr. Nellis are his daughter in law, Sheri Nellis and his grandson in law, Jay Jamison.
Mr. Nellis was a long-time youth baseball coach in Denison, having coached everything from tee ball to Palomino, and he was the founder of the Denison Hilltoppers Baseball Club. He not only molded the life and direction of his family, but he also provided mentorship and fatherly friendship to countless young Denisonians. He never missed a golf or softball tournament of his granddaughter Repsie's, never missed even a practice for his son William's baseball, never missed a single cheer competition of his granddaughter Lindsay, and made almost all of his grandson Will's select baseball tournaments. Even in very poor medical condition, Mr. Nellis would brave the heat and the cold and all of the travel for these events, even up to mere days before his passing. Mr. Nellis was a former Man of the Year for the Denison Jaycees and was an accomplished amateur golfer, playing with a group of fellow Texomalanders at Rod and Gun Country Club in Denison, where he was a long-time member.
Mr. Nellis will be missed as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He now is enjoying his well-earned rest with the Lord, and, no doubt, is gearing up for his golf game tomorrow in beautiful Paradise."
Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at Fairview Cemetery Chapel in Denison, Texas. Burial and Military Funeral Honors will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

Bratcher Funeral Home