Gary Dean Arras

Gary Dean Arras, age 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Centennial, Colorado, after a brief illness.

Gary was born in Findlay, Ohio, to George and Peg Arras on Palm Sunday. He was an only child, but grew up close to his cousins, aunts, and uncles, who all lived in the same cul-de-sac. He attended Findlay Public Schools and, after graduating in 1965, joined the U.S. Army and served two years in Vietnam.

In 1981, Gary moved to Colorado and met his future wife, Karen Gooden, at the Thrifty Scotsman, a resale shop in downtown Littleton that Karen owned. Together they ran the shop for 25 years and married in 1998. After closing the store, they went on to operate the Woodlawn contract postal station for many years.

Known to many in Littleton as “the Scotsman,” Gary was gregarious, kind, and deeply personable. He had a gift for conversation and a way of making people feel like friends. Karen has served as a board member of Historic Littleton, Inc., and Gary was a loyal behind-the-scenes helper and supporter of its work for nearly 40 years.

Gary is survived by his wife, Karen Arras; his daughter, Amy Castro; his stepsons, Ken Gooden and Curt Gooden; his daughters-in-law, Danielle and Julie; and his seven grandchildren, Aleah, Ellery, Jones, McKenzie, Jake, Matthew, and Maddy.

Gary’s interment will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. on May 28, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital -  www.stjude.org in Gary's name and memory.

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