No services are planned at this time for Gary Lee Violet, 65, of Coral Springs, FL. Mr. Violet passed away on February 6, 2016 from natural causes.
Survivors include his sister, Janis Walker and husband Jerry of Ada; two nieces and their families; and Viola Ann Violet, Gary’s ex-wife of 32 years. Previously, Gary lived in Miami Beach and Hot Springs, AR, where he enjoyed boating and the beach.
Gary graduated in 1967 from high school in Aberdeen, MS, where he wed Viola Ann Violet in 1969. In Aberdeen, Gary worked at a local radio station as a DJ where his love and talent for broadcasting emerged. Initially, Gary worked for five years as a transmitter engineer with the MS Department of Educational TV in Inverness, MS.
Gary and Ann Violet formed Violet Broadcasting which spanned a 30 year career in FM and AM radio development and broadcasting in Mississippi, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas and Florida. Gary was a licensed pilot which facilitated his multi-state radio development and broadcast career.
The Violets obtained permits from the Federal Communication Commission to begin five new radio stations, the first being KBUZ FM in 1979 in Kansas, and the last being WWWK FM in 1999 in Marathon Key, FL. Gary was a brilliant, licensed radio engineer and constructed the KBUZ radio tower and broadcast studio with his own hands. Ann and Robbie Violet assisted Gary with daily broadcast operations. Violet Broadcasting was a small family operation, as listed in Wikipedia, that achieved remarkable success.
Memorials may be made to the Central Church of Christ, 820 Stadium Drive, Ada, OK 74820.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
