Gary Bernard Streit

Retired Lieutenant Colonel , 81,
of Vernon, Texas passed away on Friday, May 19, 2023,
in Vernon, after a brief illness.
Funeral services will be Friday, June 2, 2023 at 11
a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul
Neuberger o􀵶 ciating. Burial with full Military Honors
will follow at Eastview Memorial Park under the
direction of Sullivan Funeral Home.
Gary was born July 6, 1941 in Vernon, Texas. He
was the son of the late Ernest Streit and the late Verena
Fluhman and stepson of the late Ida Streit. He married
Mary Beth Pruitt in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1968 and
had two children, Stephanie and Michaela.
Gary graduated Vernon High School in 1959 and
attended Texas Tech until 1963. He was co-owner
of Window Covering Company, Inc with o􀵶 ces in
Lubbock, Albuquerque and Oklahoma City between the years of 1963-1976. He
held the titles of Secretary/Treasurer, President and Chairman of the Board and
served on the Board of Directors for Southwest Window Covering Association.
Gary joined the National Guard and went on active duty in 1964. He worked for the
Department of Defense as a United States Army Reserves school advisor from 1977-
1981 and held rank as Lieutenant Colonel in the USAR, retiring in August 1994 after
serving for 30 years. Gary and his family returned to Vernon in 1981 to take over
the family farm which was established in 1885 and has been in continuous operation
under the Streit family for 138 years. He loved his cattle and was passionate about
pursuing his family history and sharing with anyone that would listen.
Gary was proud to serve his community after being elected as the 􀂿 rst Republican
County Judge in 1995 and served until 2006. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran
Church.
Gary is survived by his friend and companion, Mary Diane Parker of Vernon,
Texas who loved and cared for him, his two daughters, Stephanie Khodarahmi
(John) of Lone Tree, Colorado and Miki Walsh (Joe) of Lafayette, California, two
brothers, Dennis Streit (Candy) of Dallas, Texas, Dale VanLoh (Laura) of Dallas,
Texas and sister Renee Havins (Steve) of Amarillo, Texas. Gary leaves behind his
grandchildren, Jack and Grace Khodarahmi, Maddie and Tatum Walsh, as well as
Parker and Trevor Meads and Jacob Newell and several nephews and a niece.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 1, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sullivan Funeral
Home.
In lieu of 􀃀 owers, memorials can be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Tunnel
to Towers Foundation.