Gary Lee Best

Gary Lee Best of Locust Grove, OK was born August 26, 1952, to Burl and Tommie (McCoy) Best in Tucson, AZ. The son of a pipe liner, his younger years were spent in many different states. The family settled in Tulsa where Gary attended school. He was drafted into the Army at the age of eighteen and spent three years in Vietnam as a truck driver from 1970 – 1973. In 1974 his daughter Christina was born and she was his pride and joy. Gary was soon employed as a rig welder and traveled the states. He and his buddy Six went to the Virgin Islands where they soon found out that aborigines were shooting poison darts and they decided that wasn't where they wanted to be. Gary's dad taught him to drive a Peterbilt when he was younger so it only stood to reason that he would come back to Oklahoma and start Gary Best Trucking, owning four different Peterbilt trucks and numbered them accordingly. Gary retired in 2025. Gary married Maxine Wolf on October 27, 2008. Many weekends you would find them riding their Harley Davidson motorcycle to many different places. Gary passed away April 12 in Tulsa.

Gary is survived by his wife, Maxine of the home; daughter, Christina Best of Dallas, TX; step-daughter, Melanie Wolf of Tulsa, OK; step-son, Charles Wolf of Tulsa, OK; granddaughters, Harmony Grace Burke and Bella Nova Burke of Sand Springs,OK; sister, Sherry Burria of Ponca City, OK; aunt, Bobbie Akers of Salina, KS; sister-in-law, Mildred Greer of Tulsa, OK; cousin, Frank Hendrichs; and nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. He also leaves behind his beloved dog and best friend, Bear. He is preceded in death by his parents, Burl and Tommie Best; and brother, Bob Best.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 20, 2026, in the Shipman’s Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Andy Pilant officiating. Interment will follow in the Benge Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Shipman’s Funeral Home. To leave a personal message, please visit his guestbook at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service of Pryor.