Garry Yockey

Garry Joe Yockey, age 72, born Oct. 4, 1949, in Pawhuska, OK, suddenly passed away Monday, June 20, 2022, while vacationing with his family in Durango, Colorado. Joe was a long-time resident of Moore, Oklahoma.

Growing up in a railroad family, Garry Joe lived most of his childhood in Kansas, before moving with his parents during high school to Newkirk, Oklahoma. It is here that he met his bride of 51 years, Rose Mary Backhaus. The couple married June 5, 1971. Garry Joe had a long career in law enforcement working in Newkirk, Blackwell, and Winfield, Kansas as a patrol officer. The family moved to Moore, Oklahoma, when Garry Joe became a Special Agent for the Santa Fe Railroad. He retired in 2014, as a Deputy Marshall for the Oklahoma City Courts. Through his long career in law enforcement, he made many dear friends who remained close.

Joe loved sports, motorcycles, and his family. He helped coach both his sons, Mark and Clay in baseball and soccer. Baseball and sports in general, were very much a part of the Yockey family. So much that Joe had a practice field built behind their house so Mark and Clay’s teams could practice. Hours were spent on that field behind the house by the boys and neighborhood kids learning the basics of life and baseball. There was not a baseball, basketball, soccer, football, or swim event that Joe did not miss. While coaching and watching his kids play sports, Joe made many lifelong friends.

Joe loved his Gold Wing and Harley motorcycles. He was known to tell stories about his rides down winding road with friends. Those stories like the rides were long winded. Some “mostly” true, but with added flare that only a story from Joe Yockey would tell. He was most proud of his Road King Harley, a special anniversary edition. His Harley days came to an end in 2013, when an F5 tornado decided to take it for a ride. Yet, he was still extremely proud of it when it appeared on the cover of a local motorcycle magazine in its mangled state.
Most of all he loved his family. Joe would want to be remembered most for the family he and Rose Mary created. Boasting about his children, family vacations, sports, milestone celebrations, camping trips, and all the memories they shared. These are the things that meant the most in the life of Garry Joe Yockey.

Joe was greeted in heaven by his parents, Charles and Frances, and his brother Larry Yockey. Garry Joe will be missed by his wife, Rose Mary Yockey of Moore; daughter Mary Beth Roberts and husband Gene of Blanchard; son Dr. Mark Yockey and wife Dr. Jenelle Ferry of Tampa, FL; and son Clay Yockey of Moore. Joe was a proud grandpa to Evan, Clara, and Elliot Yockey, children of Mark and Jenelle. He will be missed as a brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend who always had a story to tell and a laugh to share.

A memorial service honoring Garry Joe will be held Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 11am at the First Christian Church of Moore, 629 NW 12th Street, Moore, Oklahoma. Immediately following the service, a Celebration of Life Luncheon will be held for family and friends to share love and laughter, visit, and stories of Garry Joe Yockey.