Gary Wayne Skalicky

Gary Wayne Skalicky, age 79, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, May 31, 2021.  Gary courageously fought cancer, of which there was no cure, for the last two years.  In the end, he accepted that he was out of medical options but he was never out of hope.  He was born in El Campo, Texas on August 16, 1941 to Rudolph and Anna (Michaelsen) Skalicky.  He has lived in Ganado, Texas since he was about five years old.  He graduated from Ganado High School in 1960.  He began his life long career of farming rice and ranching from 1960 thru the present.  He always said he studied at the Rice Field University of Rudolph Skalicky.  He learned about hard work, determination, and perseverance, he learned to respect the land and had many pets and show animals.  Gary met and married the love of his life Nelwyn Wilson on June 27, 1964, they made their home in Ganado. After eleven years of marriage, they welcomed a son, Michael Wayne Skalicky. 

He is survived by his wife, Nelwyn Wilson Skalicky and his son Michael Wayne Skalicky, daughter-in-law, Kristin Skalicky, and two granddaughters, Mikaela and Kamryn Skalicky all of Ganado.  Also survived by his sisters; Gloria Damborsky of Edna, Judy Waits of Ganado, Donna Cook and brother-in-law, Jim Cook of Colorado, sisters-in-law, Lennis Smith of Wharton, Gatha Wilson of El Campo, Glenna Ferrell and brother-in-law Weldon Ferrell of East Bernard.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Gary is preceded in death by his father, Rudolph J. Skalicky, his mother, Anna Michaelsen Skalicky, his father-in-law, Herbert L. Wilson, and mother-in-law, Neva Ellison Wilson. 

Gary was very active in the community and served on the Board of Directors of Citizens State Bank, Chairman of FSA County Committee, Jackson County Rice Committee, President of Rice Marketing of El Campo, Director of Rice Growers of Texas, Texas Rice Improvement Association, Texas Rice Council, Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District Board, Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Region P Water Planning Group, Cub Scout Master, Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scouts, Jackson County Fair, Lions Club, President and Councilman of St. James Lutheran Church.

Pallbearers will be: Danny Kubecka, Dick Ottis, J.J. Schmidt, Michael Andel, Ralph Novosad, and Ray Salazar.  Honorary Pallbearers will be: All of Gary's Nieces and Nephews, All Employees of S&W Farms, Mason Galow, Burr Stafford, Rodney Tegeler, Donnie Will, Ronnie Smith, Timmy Prochaska, Mike Matocha, and Bob Shoemate.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the medical staff for their loving care and going above and beyond for Gary. Dr. Mehran A Nezhad and Staff, Dr. Vinod Ravi, Sudha Yalmanchili, FNP, Dr. Jose L. Valladares and Staff, All Employees of DeTar Infusion Center, and Crown Hospice of Victoria and Staff. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to: St. James Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 250, Ganado, TX 77962, 361-771-2461, or Crown Hospice, 1101 Salem Road Suite A, Victoria, TX 77904, 361-575-5900, or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P. O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210, 713-792-3450, or Donor's Choice.

There will be a visitation on Thursday, June 3, 2021  from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at St. James Lutheran Church, 900 S. Third St., Ganado, TX 77962.  The Funeral Service will be Friday, June 4, 2021 at 10:30 am with Pastor Rosemarie Doucette officiating, followed by interment at Ganado City Cemetery.

Services have been entrusted to Russell Todish of Ganado Funeral Home, 800 S. Third St. Ganado, TX 77962, 361-771-2120.

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