Official Obituary of
Gary Randall Laney
March 18, 1940 ~ August 7, 2024 (age 84) 84 Years Old
Gary Laney Life Story
On March 18, 1940, Herman Neal Laney and Flossie Mae Phillips Laney gave birth to Gary Randall Laney, Sr. in Troup, Texas. He passed away peacefully with his family at his bedside on August 7, 2024, aged 84.
Gary spent his youth hunting, fishing, camping, fixing things and getting dirty. He played 6-man football for Troup High, and spent evenings listening to the latest Motown hits on his self-built crystal radio. He graduated from Troup High in 1958, then attended Kilgore College, where he first met Deanna Joy Godwin on the Kilgore College school bus. After carving his name into the metal seat back of the bus, she knew he was the one. Four months after he graduated, September 19, 1960, they were married. He and Deanna were married 52 years until her death in 2012.
In 1960, he followed his father's footsteps in becoming a machinist for Letourneau, back in the days when Mr. Letourneau himself would walk up on you. He retired after 35 years. Wristwatches to engines to air conditioners, with a plastic cup of sweet tea and his pipe in his mouth, there was nothing he couldn't build or fix.
During that period, he built a home in what was at that time deep in the woods of northeast Longview. (Now, it's endless self-storage rental units and school-zones.) He and Deanna raised 2 children there, Gary Randall Laney Jr. and Angela Kay Laney. He was a member, deacon and song-leader at the Mobberly church of Christ. Later, he was one of the founding members of the Longview church of Christ, where he and Deanna worshiped until their deaths. Vacations consisted of either camping on a local lake or fishing the piers in Galveston.
His retirement years centered around his 4 grandchildren and later, 5 great-grandchildren. From then on everyone called him 'Pepaw.' He also spent his retirement years fishing, fixing grandkid's electric cars and pursuing his favorite thing to eat, fresh home-grown tomatoes. That and a bag of Cheetos was the ultimate snack.
Gary was a workaholic, had an opinion about everything, over-the-top frugal, but would give you the shirt off his back and was completely devoted to family and God.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Fossie Mae Laney; wife, Deanna Laney; son, Randy Laney; and brother, Doyle Laney.
He is survived by his sister, Linda Laney of Whitehouse; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Barry Hamill of Longview; daughter-in-law, Julia Laney of Longview; grandchildren, Leslie Laney; Tori Hamill; Damon Laney and wife, Kathrine; and Alex Hamill and wife, Jenna; as well as 5 great-grandchildren, Zane; Sophie; Nathalie; Elizabeth Laney and Frankie Hamill.
He was loved by so many. He leaves us with so many memories and stories. He will be greatly missed by all.
A Life Celebration® funeral service for Gary Randall Laney, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Longview Church of Christ. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2024, in The Garden Court of The Cammack Family Welch Funeral Home.
Gary spent his youth hunting, fishing, camping, fixing things and getting dirty. He played 6-man football for Troup High, and spent evenings listening to the latest Motown hits on his self-built crystal radio. He graduated from Troup High in 1958, then attended Kilgore College, where he first met Deanna Joy Godwin on the Kilgore College school bus. After carving his name into the metal seat back of the bus, she knew he was the one. Four months after he graduated, September 19, 1960, they were married. He and Deanna were married 52 years until her death in 2012.
In 1960, he followed his father's footsteps in becoming a machinist for Letourneau, back in the days when Mr. Letourneau himself would walk up on you. He retired after 35 years. Wristwatches to engines to air conditioners, with a plastic cup of sweet tea and his pipe in his mouth, there was nothing he couldn't build or fix.
During that period, he built a home in what was at that time deep in the woods of northeast Longview. (Now, it's endless self-storage rental units and school-zones.) He and Deanna raised 2 children there, Gary Randall Laney Jr. and Angela Kay Laney. He was a member, deacon and song-leader at the Mobberly church of Christ. Later, he was one of the founding members of the Longview church of Christ, where he and Deanna worshiped until their deaths. Vacations consisted of either camping on a local lake or fishing the piers in Galveston.
His retirement years centered around his 4 grandchildren and later, 5 great-grandchildren. From then on everyone called him 'Pepaw.' He also spent his retirement years fishing, fixing grandkid's electric cars and pursuing his favorite thing to eat, fresh home-grown tomatoes. That and a bag of Cheetos was the ultimate snack.
Gary was a workaholic, had an opinion about everything, over-the-top frugal, but would give you the shirt off his back and was completely devoted to family and God.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Fossie Mae Laney; wife, Deanna Laney; son, Randy Laney; and brother, Doyle Laney.
He is survived by his sister, Linda Laney of Whitehouse; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Barry Hamill of Longview; daughter-in-law, Julia Laney of Longview; grandchildren, Leslie Laney; Tori Hamill; Damon Laney and wife, Kathrine; and Alex Hamill and wife, Jenna; as well as 5 great-grandchildren, Zane; Sophie; Nathalie; Elizabeth Laney and Frankie Hamill.
He was loved by so many. He leaves us with so many memories and stories. He will be greatly missed by all.
A Life Celebration® funeral service for Gary Randall Laney, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Longview Church of Christ. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2024, in The Garden Court of The Cammack Family Welch Funeral Home.
© 2026 The Cammack Family - Directors of Funerals. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility