Gary L. Kess passed away to be with his Lord on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 6:20 P.M.

 He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was the third and youngest son of Milton Kess and Dorothy Kess-Schnall.  He was loved by his parents and two older brothers, but also by his maternal grandmother, who resided with the family.  She was his refuge when things got too hectic for Gary and he had fond memories about being with her in the kitchen, preparing meals for the family.  Another memory he often shared was helping out, with his brothers, at his father’s pharmacy.  Gary had a lifelong affinity with pharmacies. 

 He graduated from high school in Cleveland and acquired 20 plus units of college.  He realized school was not for him, due to his ADHD, which he was diagnosed with later in life.  He worked in different retail settings and was appreciated for his hard work ethic, often working overtime hours.

 He was married and divorced, before he later met his now ex-wife, Karen.  They spent some time in Cleveland before they moved to California.  There he continued working both in retail and in the hospitality sector.  In 2012, they moved to Karen’s home country, the Netherlands.  He adapted very well to life there, working as a postal worker and supporting Karen in the care of her dying mother.  After his mother-in-law passed away, Karen and Gary returned to the U.S., landing in Texas.

 By then Gary was retired and he enjoyed walking around the apartment complex, gathering coins people had lost.  He was happy to move to a rental house with a big yard, but he was not able to enjoy it for long; he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.  He did some therapy, but it soon stopped working to slow the progress of his disease.  He and Karen divorced but she kept taking care of him when he was hospitalized and subsequently moved to nursing homes.  She was a staunch advocate for his care.  She was with him in his last days on earth and saw how much he suffered.

 Gary was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Michael.

 He is survived by his ex-wife Karen, his brother Ron (Gail), nephews Kevin (Stephanie), Matthew (Candy), Chris (Wendy) and niece Ashlee.

 A memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 25^th at Waldo Funeral Chapel at 2:00PM.  Western Heights Church of Christ will provide lunch prior to the service at the Waldo Family Center at 12:30, all are welcome.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson Foundation.  The online register book may be signed at waldofuneralhome.com.