Gary Lee Schlyer age 79, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
He was born April 17, 1946, in Hays, Kansas, to William 'Bill' and Mary VonFeldt Schlyer.
Gary grew up in Hays, and attended Saint Joseph Military Academy, and was a 1964 graduate of Hays High School.
He owned and operated Gary’s Body Shop in Hays and Lucas from 1970 to 1976, he then did body work part-time. He then was a welder and a machinist at Farley’s Machine Shop in Russell from 1976 to 1997. Gary later moved to Wichita, which he managed, and was a machinist at Nance Manufacturing until his retirement.
Gary was a member of Saint Jude Catholic Church, and attended Saint Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church of Wichita. He also was a member of the Adoration Chapel.
Gary married Linda (Rohr) and to this union was born three children, Lisa; Lori; and Lambert. He later married Karen (Staggs) in January of 2000, in Wichita, and gained three step children.
Gary is survived by his wife, Karen, of Wichita and her three children; his daughters, Lisa Dudenhoeffer and husband, Dan, St. Louis, MO; Lori Brungardt and husband, Glenn, Lawrence, KS; his grandchildren, Mckenzie Carlgren and her husband, Dawson; Lane Brungardt; Scarlett Harmon; his great granddaughter, Westyn Carlgren; his sister, LaVera Peacock, NV; his children’s mother, Linda Height and husband, James.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, William 'Bill' and Mary Schlyer; and his step father, Ray Hammerschmidt; his son, Lambert Schlyer; his brother, Virgil Schlyer, his sisters, JoAnn Combs; and Rita Taggert.
A private family graveside inurnment will be at 1:30 P.M. Friday, September 12, 2025 at Saint Joseph Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.
The family will receive friends from 11:30 A.M. to 1:15 P.M. at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.
The family suggests memorials made payable to Kansas Humane Society, Wichita, or Food Pantry at Saint Jude Catholic Church, Wichita, in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
Condolences can be emailed to [email protected] or left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com