Gary Dale Sims' Obituary
September 7, 2025 Gary Dale Sims was born in Durant, Oklahoma to Loma Juanita (Maxwell) and Burnett Walton Sims, their only child. Gary‘s father served in World War II and was honorably discharged on a medical disability incurring Type I diabetes as a result of a wartime incident. When Burnett returned to Oklahoma he worked with the IGA independent grocers association, establishing or managing grocery stores in Southeast Oklahoma. The family settled in Ardmore, Oklahoma for Gary’s years in high school graduating from Ardmore High School in 1961. These years provided continuity for Gary to engage in sports and seriously pursue his love of music through trombone and a beautiful voice within church and community. Gary earned scholarships in music at the University of Oklahoma in the OU marching band, however, his passion for voice lead him to three more years at the California Institute of the Arts studying voice with Issac Van Grove, who became both an amazing mentor and a second father in many ways. Gary’s days at CalArts provided an opportunity for his public debut in the Hollywood Bowl with highly promising reviews for this young tenor. Upon graduation from CalArts in 1968, Gary was drafted and began six years with the Oklahoma Army National Guard during the Vietnam War in which he served two stints overseas. He also married for the first time, nearly finished a masters degree in music at Texas Christian University and lost his father at a young age. He worked his way through TCU with teaching assistantships and also became a night terminal manager for Continental Trailways in Fort Worth, Texas. Gary had become unhappy with his music pathway due to the intervention of the war and its impact on his training. However, his interest in the transportation industry grew as he understood its complexities thus making the very difficult decision to leave his music behind, weighing the factors of his life at that time. This left a huge hole in his heart, even though not a regretful change over overall, and in time he began to drive for Greyhound Lines. Gary lived several years of life, eventually moving to Oklahoma City before meeting Linda Golden, who also drove for Greyhound out of Kansas City, Missouri. Their paths would cross occasionally with Linda finally agreeing to a first date when her younger seniority brought her to Tulsa. Part of her attraction was that wonderfully quick mind, Gary‘s lawyer-like mastery of the union contract and his fierce commitment to bettering drivers lives through labor laws. This was a time when Gary touched many lives as he supported deserving drivers through education of the contract and helping them with writing grievances in his union leadership role. Greyhound went through some turbulent years with Gary and Linda navigating two strikes after their marriage in 1983. Due to this uncertainty, Linda made the decision to leave transportation, taking paralegal classes which led to a position with the University of Tulsa. Gary continued to work with Greyhound throughout a third strike where he challenged both the union leadership in their poor advice to strike and the company through lawsuit when it also crossed labor lines in hiring replacement drivers. This became part of a class action resulting in a loss for the company. Gary’s brutal honesty with all parties, his bravery through picket lines and his commitment to his family were amazing during this stretch over a two-year period. After 30 years as a driver, having received a rare award for driving over “1,000,000 safe miles”, and having trained many new drivers through the years, Gary retired in 2005. Gary was multitalented and very creative. His beautiful calligraphy and music copywriting skills helped to support him through CalArts with NBC Studios often requesting him to work with the band of the Dean Martin show and other programs. He was an enthusiastic sports fan, especially Sooners football and softball programs. Reading was essential to his articulate being—all things historical with particular interests in Oklahoma, our indigenous heritage and America’s conflicts. He stayed abreast of current events worldwide. He was also an avid reader, and loved to crochet, cross-stitch and embroidery, including crewel and tremay, leaving several lovely pieces with the family. Gary and Linda‘s most cherished memories are the day of their marriage, the birth of their daughter Allison, a long overdue trip to Yellowstone National Park and the birth of their grandchildren, Connor and Ivy Anne. Gary fell in early May then endured a series of setbacks which eventually let him come home with full support of a very caring hospice group and friends in the community. Gary died peacefully with Linda and Allison by his side. Gary is survived by his wife, Linda, daughter, Allison Sims (JD Brimmer), grandchildren Connor and Ivy — all of Tulsa; Oklahoma cousins Vickie (Tommy), Grant and Shanda Brown, Abby Olmstead; Tommy (Peggy), Casey and Clay Allison. A private service will be held for the family. And a casual “Come and Go” is open to the community on Friday, October 17th, from 3-5 PM, on the University of Tulsa campus in the atrium of Sharp Chapel, 2940 E. 6th St. in Tulsa. Memorial contributions may be made in Gary’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://stjude.org; OETA, https://www.oeta.tv, or KWGS, https://www.publicradiotulsa.org.
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