Gary Ross Hansard

Gary Ross Hansard, 74, passed away on May 12, 2023. Gary was born in Portales, New Mexico on March 21, 1949 to Mary Kathryn Lunsford Hansard and Ross Edward Hansard. His family moved to Roswell, New Mexico during his childhood, and he graduated from Roswell High School in 1967. Gary attended Eastern New Mexico University and graduated in 1972 with a degree in business, double majoring in finance and accounting. Gary also served in the Army National Guard from 1970 until 1976 and was decorated with the Expert Rifle Award. Upon his graduation from Eastern New Mexico University, Gary started his banking career in Dallas, Texas in 1972. He moved to Lubbock, Texas in 1974 to take a position at Lubbock National Bank as Vice President of the Mortgage Department. After moving to Lubbock, he met Deborah Lewis, whom he married in Lubbock on August 29, 1976. Gary and Debby had one daughter, Catharine, who was born on August 20, 1988. In the summer of 1979 at age 30, Gary was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's Disease. Despite his diagnosis, Gary did not allow Parkinson's to prevent him from enjoying all of his favorite hobbies. Gary was an avid motorcyclist, riding both road bikes and dirt bikes, and he even convinced Debby to learn to ride dirt bikes with him. Gary also loved the outdoors. He was a patient fisherman, taking Catharine with him on many fishing trips and teaching her how to properly cook freshly caught fish (battered and fried in oil). Gary often brought his fishing gear on camping trips, another one of his favorite pastimes. Gary also loved to assemble and paint model planes and cars and could do so with the finest motor skills, despite struggling with Parkinson's. Gary was happiest when he was spending time being a girl dad to Catharine, attending all of her extra-curricular sports activities, building wooden cars to race in the Girl Scouts' Grand Prix, and fixing any mechanical issues she encountered. Gary remained always-determined and resilient, despite battling Parkinson's Disease for over 40 years. Gary is preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Neal Thompson. He is survived by his wife, Debby; daughter, Catharine (Barrett); sister, Carol Lynn Thompson; brother, Gregory Dean Hansard (Jannette); brothers-in-law, Joe Remly Lewis (Karla) and Thomas Warner Lewis (Debby). He is also survived by five nieces and two nephews. Gary's Memorial Service will be held at Sander's Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, October 6, 2023, 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research via check to P. O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or online at https://www.michaeljfox.org/tribute.

Gary Ross Hansard

March 21, 1949 - May 12, 2023