Gary Lee Van Hooser of Lawson, Missouri passed away Saturday afternoon May 29, 2021. A devoted husband, father and dedicated disciple of Christ, Gary was called home to his Lord unexpectedly. Those who know him best will attest that Gary was never a stranger to honest labor and earnest service. He was a steadfast and stalwart man and a true patriot who loved his God, his country, his family, and his friends. Gary was born at Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas and was raised in Orrick, Missouri. He became a proud alumnus of Orrick High School in '76 and studied briefly at NWMSU before beginning work as a collision repairman. He has co-owned and operated Quality Body Works with is wife Melanie in Lawson, Missouri where he's served his community faithfully for decades. He has also served in many capacities over the years at Elmira Baptist Church, where he was a very active and involved member of a congregation that he considered family. Whether a Vacation Bible School, church business meeting, Sunday School, Christmas program, Easter Sunrise Service... you name it, Gary would have had a hand in it. His love for God led him to dedicate much of his life to worship and sharing the gospel. Gary had a love of life that is hard to really quantify. He relished in God's creation and was an avid sportsman. An accomplished fisherman and hunter, part of his legacy is in the many youth he taught these crafts. Whether you knew him as Dad, Uncle Gary, or just plain Gary, he would be glad to show you how to tie that lure on, the right way to hold and shoot that rifle, or with a sly smile explain to you exactly why, when it came to camo, Realtree is so obviously superior to Mossy Oak. Blessed with many talents, Gary enjoyed playing the guitar and would, on occasion, sing too. He would be happy to fire up the grill or the fish-fry, using delicious food as a perfectly good excuse to fellowship with beloved family and friends. A skilled conversationalist, Gary could sit down and talk with just about anybody; whether a dear friend or a total stranger with a few perfectly placed puns and a very genuine smile, he'd have you at ease and chuckling in no time. His collection of jokes was marvelous and even if they didn't make you laugh, he would and then you couldn't help but join in. Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Don and Jean Van Hooser. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Melanie Steinman Van Hooser; his two daughters, Jenna Van Hooser Robinson and Sadie Van Hooser; his son Brody Van Hooser; his two grandchildren Krislyn & Avery, his sister and brother-in-law Debbie and Terry Freeman; his aunt Barb; and his numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.