Dr. Gary Paul Aber, DVM

Dr. Gary Paul Aber, DVM, was called home on July 26, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Born to the late James Ned Aber and Evelyn Lucille Aber on September 19, 1945, in Brownsville, Texas. Gary was raised in Tyler, Texas, alongside his sister, Nedra, and brother, Charles. He graduated from John Tyler High School in 1964 before attending Texas Tech University on a swimming scholarship where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He continued his education at Texas A&M University, earning his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1976.

Gary's path to becoming a veterinarian was anything but ordinary. As a young boy, he worked alongside his father on the family tulip farm, where he learned the value of hard work. He briefly ventured into sales as a Kirby vacuum salesman, proudly achieving the impressive sales record of selling exactly one vacuum cleaner. He also tested his handyman skills as a garage door installer; a career that, thankfully, was short-lived.

Realizing these careers were not for him, Gary moved to College Station, where he worked as a roughneck in the oilfields while he pursued his master’s degree in animal nutrition at Texas A&M University. Following the completion of veterinary school, Gary found his true calling. For more than forty years, he devoted his life to caring for horses and the clients who entrusted them to him, traveling across Texas and beyond to provide exceptional veterinary care.

Veterinary medicine was never just a profession to Gary; it was his destiny. He poured his heart and soul into every animal he treated, whether responding to an emergency colic on Christmas Day or spending sleepless nights alongside family camped in the barn, keeping watch over a mare and her newborn foal. His compassion, knowledge, and unwavering dedication earned him the respect of clients, colleagues, and friends alike.

Gary’s love for horses extended far beyond his career. He also enjoyed breeding, raising, and racing horses. Horses were more than a hobby for him. They were an extra source of income, a key source of entertainment in the form of feeding and checking on the horses he had at home, visiting the horses he had in training, and going to watch his horses race. He also gained many lifelong friends through the horse racing industry. Gary served on the Texas Racehorse Commission for five years. He was immensely proud of his horses, particularly his stud, Blue Times, and found great enjoyment in watching his mare, Desire Astoli race.

While he was an exceptional veterinarian, Gary's greatest accomplishments were found at home. He was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, CJ, sharing more than forty years of unwavering love, partnership, and faith. He was a proud and loving father to Amy and Lesley, always offering guidance, encouragement, and unconditional love and support. Known lovingly as "Pops," he delighted in every moment spent with his grandchildren, Sarah, Ashley, Blayke, and Blayre. Whether sharing stories, tending to the garden, offering wisdom, or simply making them laugh, Pops created memories they will treasure forever.

Gary's greatest pride was his family. The love he poured into them, the example he set through his integrity, compassion, and tireless work ethic; and the countless lives he touched; both human and animal, will continue to inspire those who knew and loved him. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the friends he treasured, the clients who became family, and the generations of veterinarians and horse owners whose lives he influenced.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents James and Lucille Aber, brother Charles, in-laws Louis and Alma Jane Jankowski, brother-in-law, Chris Jankowski and sister-in -law Cathey Fulton. He is survived by his wife, CJ Aber; daughters Amy Riggs and Lesley Bacak (Brian); four beautiful granddaughters Sarah Riggs, Ashley Albert (Trevor), Blayke and Blayre Bacak; his sister, Nedra Epperson; brother-in-law, Chuck Jankowski (Jeana); sister-in-law Ann Jankowski; brother-in-law, Roger Fulton; and his beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers are Chuck Jankowski, Brian Bacak, Dr. Jeff Watkins, DVM, Jimmie Stanzel, Steve Archer, Ray Greathouse, and Kenneth Roberts.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Simonton Community Church, 9703 FM 1489 Simonton, Texas. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m., Service at 11:00 a.m., with lunch to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in honor of Gary P. Aber DVM, to Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine or Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine Excellence Fund http://give.ttu.edu/aber

Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine http://give.am/VetMedClassof75Scholarship