Gary Milton Knuckles

January 9, 1940 – August 6, 2026

Born in Detroit, Michigan. Passed away in Green Cove Springs, Florida.

Gary Knuckles was born on January 9, 1940, to Millard "Jack" and Leona (Ritchie) Knuckles, the first of six children. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy (Redd) Knuckles; his two children, Carissa Hogan (married to Sean Hogan) and Brian Knuckles; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren — Meaghan (and Eddie) Wheeless (Samuel, Jacob, and Elliot), Connor (and Katelyn) Hogan (Luke and James), Colin Hogan, Erin Hogan, Hunter (and Anna) Knuckles (Ellianna and Cameron), and Briley Knuckles; and his brothers, James Knuckles and Jeffery Knuckles, along with many nieces and nephews.

Gary spent his earliest years in Cass City, Michigan, on his parents' farm before moving to Sarasota, Florida, in 1950. During his time in Sarasota, he played baseball and golf and sang bass in the men's chorus and a quartet as a bass voice, earning multiple awards and trophies for both sports and music.

Gary enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Sarasota High School in 1958 and served as an Electronics Technician, operating radar and sonar systems aboard submarines including the USS Threadfin and USS Chopper. Stationed out of Key West, he served primarily in the Atlantic during the Cold War era, and his submarine was one of the boats standing watch off the coast of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Gary met and married Dorothy Redd while working at a W.T. Grant's department store in Panama City, Florida, after his Navy service. He became a store manager, and the couple moved throughout the state as Gary earned a reputation as a "fixer" who turned failing stores around. He went on to work for Vince Fechtel, managing his chain of Happy Dollar Stores in Central Florida, which brought the family to Leesburg. He then served as Director of Purchasing for Lake County in Leesburg, and three years later in the same role for Manatee County. While in Bradenton, Gary became a lobbyist for Manatee County, working with Speaker of the House Ralph Haben to help fund the county's Convention Center and implement its first 911 system. He went on to serve as Chief Deputy Property Appraiser for Manatee County for several years before leaving in 1994 to join A.G. Edwards as a financial planner, later becoming manager of that branch. He remained there through the company's transitions to Wachovia and then Wells Fargo, finally retiring in 2018 to focus on his favorite passion: golf.

Gary had a true love for the game of golf — though those who played with him will tell you that, to him, it was serious business, not a pastime. He was a phenomenal player who could have gone professional, and he often surprised younger opponents by outdriving and outplaying them well into his 80s. In 1988, he played in a Pro-Am tournament partnered with Hale Irwin and finished in second place, a memory he always cherished. Gary kept playing into the final years of his life, when he could be seen on the course with an oxygen tank strapped to his back.

Gary was also deeply committed to community service. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis of Florida, President of the Salvation Army Board of Manatee County, President of the Council on Aging of Manatee County, President of Meals on Wheels for Manatee County, and as a board member of Hope Family Services, which supports survivors of domestic abuse. Through this work, he and his wife traveled internationally for conventions, trainings, and service projects, and in 1998 he helped open the first Kiwanis club in Estonia.

Above all, Gary was a devoted family man who cherished time with his children, grandchildren, and especially his great-grandchildren. His home was always open to them, and on several occasions an adult child or grandchild lived with him and his wife. Known as a generous gift-giver and a big tipper, he was a favorite among the waitresses and bartenders at his favorite spots. He valued honesty, integrity, and hard work — qualities reflected in everything he did and everything he expected of others.

A memorial service will be held Friday, August 28, at Broadus-Raines Funeral Home in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Visitation begins at 2:00 p.m., with the service to follow at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Gary's memory to your favorite charity. Gary was a proud supporter of Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and the Wounded Warrior Project.