Gerald "Gary" Lee Cunningham
May 12, 1937 - September 21, 2024
Gerald “Gary” Lee Cunningham, 87, of La Plata, Missouri, passed away Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Missouri with his family at his side.
Born May 12, 1937, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Homer Vent and Helen Lenora (Boots) Cunningham. On November 16, 1957, at the Camdenton, Missouri Bridal Caves, he was united in marriage to Louise Derby who survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Daniel Joseph (Lora) Cunningham of La Plata, Missouri and James Patrick (Shelly) Cunningham of Odessa, Missouri; six daughters, Katheen Louise Sorak of Ottumwa, Iowa, Victoria Elizabeth (Michael) Lord of Platte City, Missouri, Crystal Susan Amini-Rad of La Plata, Missouri, Cynthia Kay (Brian) Patten of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Laurie Gay (Michael) Waddle of Greentop, Missouri, and Julia Ann Mudd of Fulton, Missouri; 28 grandchildren, Yvette, Jason, Deanna, Heather, Rachel, Andy, Laura, Jake, Alex, Eric, Sara, Matthew, Nicholas, Nathaniel, Lucas, Joshua, Emily, Jennifer, Betsy, Joseph, Erin, Megan, Zachary, Ethan, Olivia, Mariah, Theodore, and Bridget; 45 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
His parents, one brother, Albert Marion (Betty) Cunningham, and two sons-in-law, Tim R. Sorak and Daniel Patrick Mudd preceded him in death.
Gary graduated from Van Meter High School with his lifelong best friend, Roland Joiner in 1955. He began working for KTVO-TV in August of 1955, just before the station was officially on the air. He worked several positions including laying the concrete studio floor in Ottumwa, Iowa to multiple on-air and off-air production positions, the Film Editor and finally retiring while the Public Affairs Director in 2003. Gary was well known locally for his on-air performances as “Cactus Cunningham”, the singing cowboy, on KTVO’s locally produced children’s programming, Uncle Woody’s Store, in the ‘60s up through his weekly public affairs program, This Week in the Heartland, airing over 25 years.
Gary was also very active in the local community, offering countless hours of volunteerism including live performances, singing in and visiting nursing homes as the singing cowboy, working on multiple social service organization Boards such as United Way, Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Optimist Club, the Salvation Army, LaPlata Lions Club and many others. However, Gary felt his greatest accomplishment was the founding of the Heartland Task Force, a local organization dedicated to preventing alcohol and drug abuse among the local youth. Through this organization, the popular fundraiser “Daddy Daughter Dance” was brought to Kirksville.
While these lifelong accomplishments were very important to Gary, his heart was always invested in loving Jesus, ministering to his family, serving his Country and whispering to his dogs. He devoted his retirement years to his wife, children, grandchildren and many other family and friends that he loved dearly.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at First United Methodist Church in Kirksville, Missouri. Visitation will be from Noon to 2:00 pm at the church. Burial will be in the La Plata Cemetery in La Plata, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Heartland Task Force. They may be sent to or left at Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church St., La Plata, MO 63549.