Gary N. Elliott's Obituary
Gary Elliott grew up in Kansas City, Missouri with his parents, Peggy and Chuck, and little sister, Charlene. The first 16 years of his life were filled with boy stuff, firecrackers, his motor scooter, learning to play his guitar, and tormenting his little sister for getting him in trouble with Mom. Oh yes, and that Elliott tradition of “lighting farts” with his cousin Don. He joined the U.S. Air Force to escape the confines of Kansas City and served 4 years in Germany as an jet aircraft mechanic until his honorable discharge in 1962. He returned home to his loving parents and a little less annoying kid sister. He worked as a police officer in Raytown, Mo before moving to Seattle, Wa for a job with Boeing. He left there in what would be a huge career change: Disc Jockey. His first on-air job was in Fort Scott, Ks., from there it was on to the larger market of Carthage/Joplin as a DJ. All the while his guitar was his trusty companion. He wrote songs and performed with the band Cherokee Country for a number of years.He was a DJ at KVOO in Tulsa before landing his dream job in television broadcasting. He joined the KTUL family as an audio engineer and was featured in many local TV commercials, as well as doing sound production behind the scenes. He was also cast in an episode of the national television series “America’s Most Wanted”. He got that role because the criminal “looked like Kenny Rogers” which of course, Gary did. ( When he wasn’t being mistaken for Santa Claus by the children of Tulsa). He had an affinity for all things humorous and could recite Monty Python skits in a perfect British accent, much to the delight of his nieces and many others.He married Emily, the love of his life, in 2003. They shared many adventures, including a trip to Area 51, numerous fishing and kayaking excursions, and the infamous 2014 “Breaking Bad” tour, visiting sites where the TV series was produced in Alburquerque, NM.A true Renaissance man, he was very artistic and creative. He loved animals (he always wanted a baby elephant) and the outdoors, panning for gold in Colorado, digging for diamonds in Arkansas, and of course, pursuing Bigfoot. Oh yeah, he really loved flying his Cessna 150 too.He is missed by his soulmate, Emily, their kitties; Lucy, Pepper, Telly and Chester (named for Chet Atkins), his no longer annoying little sister, Charlene Pryor and her husband Bill, many other loving family members, his KTUL family and many, many friends who will miss his contagious, sidesplitting, pants wetting laughter and raucous sense of humor.Don, it’s up to you to carry on the aforementioned Elliott tradition on your own. Memorial Service to be held Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 2:00 pm at the Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.Donations may be made to : Partnering for Pets
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