![]() He started working at the department of transportation in Perry in 1965 as an equipment operator and he continued to moveup in the department ranks as maintenance superintendent, traffic superintendent, field maintenance engineer, division engineer, assistant director for operations, director and ultimately secretary of transportation, the highest ranking in Oklahoma of any other transportation position. He was wellrespected and revered locally, nationally and by anyone who crossed his path. Gary was known as the “dean of transportation” in the inner circles because even after retirement and when away from the state, he always was consulted on all things transportation and beyond. These trips proved to be an extreme bonding time and him and Eula enjoyed them tremendously. He also coached little league baseball, coached and refereed basketball and umpired baseball.īut what brought the most joy to his heart was arranging and taking annual trips with his beloved grandchildren, from Yellowstone Park, one of his favorite trips with them, to another in Canada. Gary had many hobbies and loved sports and followed many teams including his Chicago Cubs, Oklahoma State Cowboys football, Oklahoma State basketball, turkey hunting with Joe and others. Gary and Eula had three children, their first child, Josephine, passed away soon after birth and then they had Daphne and Joe. Gary married Eula in 1966 and dedicated his life to her, the family and Oklahoma transportation and stayed involved in improving transportation until the very end. Oklahoma is a much better place for Gary’s change of heart in making Oklahoma his forever home. Gary and a lifelong friend, Jim Sim, were on their way to Washington State, by way of California for some fun first, when he took some odd jobs in Oklahoma to get ready for the trip while staying with his sister Judith Ann Hodge in Perry. Even though Gary was a native of Chicago, he was affectionately known to many as an accomplished “Okie,” who fell in love with Oklahoma, his future wife Eula and transportation. He graduated from Luther North High School in Chicago. Gary was born September 29, 1945, to Margaret Elizabeth and Milo Ridley, in Chicago, Illinois. John Nepomuk Catholic Church, with interment following 3 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 30, at St. Vandament, in Yukon, followed by a Vigil service 6:30 p.m., at St. to 4 p.m., Thursday December 29, 2022, at Yanda & Son Funeral Home, 1500 W. Wednesday, December 21, 2022, in Oklahoma City surrounded by his loving family when he passed on to Heaven. ![]() Gary Milo Ridley, 77, of Yukon, passed away 9:50 p.m.
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