Gary James Gillen passed away peacefully on January 5, 2025, surrounded by his wife and daughter after losing his battle with cancer.

He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 13, 1958, to Elizabeth Ann O'Hotto and Floyd Mathias Gillen. His family moved from Maryland to Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, in 1970, and he graduated from Park Center High School.

Gary joined the Navy on January 25, 1977, and worked in the Boiler Room on the USS Independence Aircraft Carrier. He was honorably discharged on December 31, 1980. After leaving the Navy, Gary moved to Carrollton, Texas, in January 1981 to work for Forney Engineering.

On July 2, 1983, he married Brenda Kay Cordell in Dallas, Texas, at the Chapel of the Bells. Gary and Brenda moved from Carrollton, Texas, to Flower Mound, Texas, and eventually to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. They adopted their daughter Brittany on May 9, 1989, and moved to Arlington, Texas, in 1992. In July 2023, they moved to Georgetown, Texas, for their retirement years and to be close to their daughter and her family.

Gary never met a stranger. Throughout his career, he traveled across the country and made many lifelong friends. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to friends and colleagues.

For the last 25 years, he designed control systems for Innovative Control Solutions in Plano, Texas. He was well respected by colleagues and customers. Gary has been described as one of the most naturally gifted, sharpest engineers and a genius with control systems.

Gary loved a good joke and enjoyed reading the cartoons in the newspaper. He was always up for a rom-com or a Hallmark movie, but he also watched his fair share of baseball. Gary enjoyed touring lighthouses, battleships, aircraft carriers, and museums. Whether he was playing a round of golf, watching the Masters, or taking their dog Bella on a golf cart ride, golf was one of his favorite pastimes.

Remaining to cherish Gary's memory are his wife, Brenda; his daughter, Brittany; his son-in-law, Daniel; his dog, Bella; his grand-dog Baxter; and his siblings Thomas, Michael (Julie), Paul (Kimberly), Robert (Laurie), John (Beverly), and Susan.

Preceding Gary in death are his parents, Elizabeth and Floyd Gillen.

A Memorial will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 9 am at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas. The Inurnment will be at 11 am at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. Military Honors will be conducted. A reception will be held at The Oaks in Sun City following the inurnment.

Memorial contributions in Gary's memory can be made to the following charities:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Wounded Warrior Project