Gary Ray Jennings

Gary Ray Jennings was born on September 14, 1948, in Roswell, New Mexico, to Martha Hickson and Edwin Jennings. He grew up in Roswell until the untimely death of his father when Gary was just 14 years old. He then moved with his mother to Dallas, Texas, where he graduated from high school and began a life that would be filled with creativity, adventure, determination, and, above all, love for his family.

Gary found his calling in an unexpected way. While working with his older brother, Ronnie, a dentist, Gary learned the casting process while helping make dentures. That experience sparked an extraordinary talent. Gary became a true artist, master jeweler, and gemologist, eventually creating his own designs and selling his jewelry through his own stores in Texas, Florida, and New Mexico. Among his creations, he perfected the distinctive “Nugget” style of jewelry that became enormously popular during the 1980s and 1990s. His artistry became his livelihood, but it was also an expression of who he was—creative, independent, meticulous, and always determined to do things his own way.

Gary approached the rest of his life with much the same spirit.

Athletic and adventurous, he taught his daughters to play golf and tennis, snow ski and water ski, creating memories that would last their lifetimes. But few things brought him greater joy than playing golf with his son, Branden. Those rounds together were about much more than the game.

Family was at the center of Gary’s life. He demonstrated that devotion perhaps most profoundly through the care he gave his mother for more than 12 years, remaining by her side until her death at the remarkable age of 101.

Gary also possessed an extraordinary determination to live. For more than 30 years, he battled serious liver disease. On two separate occasions, doctors told him he had only days to live. Both times, Gary proved them wrong. He walked out of the hospital and went on living—not simply surviving, but continuing to experience the moments that mattered most.

Those extra years became an extraordinary gift.

Gary saw all three of his children graduate from high school and college. He danced at their weddings. He traveled to attend the weddings of two of his grandchildren. And on his final Father’s Day, he was able to hold his first great-grandbaby, Roman.

Gary lived a rich life filled with love, adventure, stories, and more than a little stubborn determination. He lived on his own terms and, against incredible odds, kept finding another chapter to add to his story.

One of those final chapters was an adventure he had always wanted to take. Gary boarded an overnight Amtrak train to Wisconsin with his daughter and his grandson Luca. He had always

wanted to travel by train, and he made sure that dream happened—while guarding “ye old black bag” with his very life the entire way.

That was Gary.

His grandchildren—Maya, Bryce, Luca, Beau, Harlan, and Isaiah—grew up hearing his stories and adventures, and those stories will now become part of the legacy they carry forward.

Gary was also famously generous, although his gifts sometimes came in uniquely Gary fashion. If he discovered something he loved, chances were good that everyone he loved was eventually going to own one too. Toaster ovens, diffusers, mosquito zappers, fans—if Gary thought it was great, he wanted you to have one.

There was always music somewhere in his life. He loved George Strait, Elvis Presley, and, of course, Neil Diamond. And then there was Dolly Parton. Gary loved Dolly—as he loved all beautiful women with big hair.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Martha Hickson and Edwin Jennings, and his beloved older brother, Ronnie Jennings. He is survived by his sister, Dana Garlow; his three children, Rhonda Lopez and her husband, Marc; Renee Martin and her husband, Chad; and Branden Jennings and his wife, Kirsten; his grandchildren, Maya, Bryce, Luca, Beau, Harlan, and Isaiah; his great-grandson, Roman.He will be missed by his nieces and nephews Mandy, Molly, Lance, and Brent and the many close family members and friends fortunate enough to have shared in his remarkable life.

The night before Gary passed, surrounded by family, he asked for one of his favorite foods.

Tacos. Which he attempted to eat with a knife and fork. Gary’s way.

It seems only fitting, then, that Gary's family will celebrate his life the way he would have appreciated: with family, friends, good stories, laughter, and good Tex-Mex.

Everyone who knew and loved Gary is invited to join his family for a Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Gary Ray Jennings at Matt's Rancho Martinez Tex-Mex Restaurant at 401 Central Expressway S, Allen, Texas starting at 4:00 pm. RSVP if you are able to ensure we have enough food for everyone by texting Rhonda his daughter at 505-440-1241.

Come enjoy some good Tex-Mex with us in honor of our Daddy. More importantly, come prepared with your favorite Gary story—the funny ones, the adventures, the stories his children may have heard a hundred times, and especially the ones they haven't. Share them with his children and grandchildren so Gary's stories can continue to be told. Because if there was one thing Gary Ray Jennings proved over and over again, it was that when life told him his story was over, he wasn't afraid to write another chapter.

We want this to be exactly what Gary would have wanted, a joyous time to spend time with family and friends celebrating his life and legacy. He lived fully. He loved his family fiercely. He created beautiful things. He went on adventures.

And he did it all on his own terms.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Gary’s name to the Alpha-1 Foundation. Gary encourages everyone in his family to consider requesting the genetic test to determine if they also carry this dangerous gene which was passed to him from both his mother and father that caused his life-long liver disease. The Foundation is committed to finding a cure for the Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency genetic disorder and to improving the lives of people affected by Alpha-1 worldwide. You can make a donation or find out more at https://alpha1.org, or by mail to the Alpha-1 Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134, 1(877) 2CURE A1/1 877 228-7321.