Gary D. Walker

Gary Dean Walker, 84, of Peoria, passed away of Heart failure at the ARC Nursing home in Chillicothe, on Friday, March 14th, 2025. He was born on October 4, 1940, in Peoria, Illinois to Betty and Raymond Walker. He married Sharon Kaye Hunt on March 11th, 1961, in Peoria, Illinois.

Surviving are his children James (Jim) D. Walker, Jeffrey D. Walker and Jayme (Mark) Chiaravalle; and six grandchildren, Brennan (Kasey), Dakota, Andrew, Kahla, Jayden, Nick and his great grandchildren. Preceding him in death are his wife Sharon, Parents Betty and Raymond Walker, and sibling Donnie Walker.

Gary's love of cars saw him start his working career at Earl Johnson Chevrolet in Peoria, which then became Ed Houser Chevrolet, while his young family had a new baby boy and they were getting on their feet. When Ed Houser Chevrolet was sold to Tom Smith and Bill Kalllister and became S&K Chevrolet in North Peoria, Gary followed, working 20 plus years as the Body Shop Manager for good friends Tom and Bill. After a long career with S&K, in 1992 Gary was recruited to setup and manage John Bearce's first auto body shop located in the new Automall in East Peoria.

While Gary was very successful and gained nationwide awards and acclaim as a top dealership auto body manager, Gary's dream was to someday own his own body shop, and in 2002 at the young age of 62, Gary fulfilled that dream. He bought his own body shop, Walker's Topline Auto Body, in Creve Coeur. Walker's Topline Auto Body was more than just a business helping and taking care of his customers. It was a gathering place for Gary's friends where coffee was drank, and tall tales and memories from the good 'ole days were told. Gary's oldest son Jim would often stop in and ask how Country Club Auto Body was doing today? They say "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Gary finally sold his shop and fully retired in June of 2023 at the age of 82. He had quite a run doing a job he loved.

A young Gary grew up drag racing at the old Boondocks Dragway, and there might have been a rumored race or 2 on the streets of Peoria. It was a different time back then. He also could be found stock car racing at the old Mt. Hawley Speedway, and in 1964 he was Amateur Driver of the Year at today's Peoria Speedway. With Gary's background in racing, it was only natural that Gary got his kids into Flat Track motorcycle racing. Gary was the financial backer, full time mechanic, and coach. Gary took great pride in his children's accomplishments on the track - they had close to 1000 trophies - representing many wins, and both boys raced professionally. When the kids won the whole family won as it truly was a full-time family affair. Later in life Gary and Sharon were avid boaters and belonged to the Wharf Harbor Yacht Club. They spent many fun nights aboard "Walker's Deluxe" on the river and on the docks making friends and enjoying life.

Gary's biggest passion and hobby was cars. Wheeling and dealing on cars was a fun pastime for him. Little known fact, Gary estimated that he bought and sold over 1000 cars in his life. Working in the car business he knew a good deal when he saw it and would flip that good deal into a supplemental income for the family. His favorite spot to park his cars with a for-sale sign was one house down from where they lived at the corner of Airways and Airport Rd. When he owned his own body shop, he started buying classic cars and restoring them. He had as many as 9 classic cars at one time but was always buying and selling. At the end of his career he had a 1939 Oldsmobile, 1938 Ford coupe, 1955 Ford Thunderbird, 1966 Buick Riviera, 1956 Ford convertible, 1986 Ford pickup, and 1998 Monaco 42ft motor home.

In honoring Gary's wishes a cremation has been carried out. As of now there are no plans for a visitation or funeral. To share cherished memories or express condolences to his family please leave a message on Jayme Walker Chiaravalle or Jim Walker's FB page or go to www.peoriafuneral.com.