Garry and Michele Kesler spread joy each year as Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Michele and Garry Kesler as Mrs. and Mr. Claus during a past holiday party. Courtesy photo
One glance at this merry pair and you can’t help but smile. He’s dressed all in red, his hat tipped just so and his beard as soft and snowy as a winter morning. She’s standing beside him with silver hair peeking out beneath a crimson cap, her skirt swirling with candy-cane stripes and her blouse as green as a holly leaf. Could it be Mr. and Mrs. Claus, fresh from the North Pole? Do you hear the faint sound of jingle bells in the air and the whisper of reindeer hooves in the distance?
Though they didn’t fly in on a sleigh, Michele and Garry Kesler of Horseshoe Bay do believe in the magic of Christmas, which is more than gifts beneath the tree. For them, the holiday is about spreading good cheer.
“It’s just seeing the unrestricted joy that people have when they talk with Santa,” said Garry with a twinkle in his eyes.
Life as St. Nick began for Garry in 1980 when he was teaching in Dumas. Some of his junior high students discovered a new Santa Claus costume at the school and struck a deal with him: If he wore the suit and a fake beard, they would go caroling together to the other classrooms. With the “Claus clause” in place, Garry transformed into Santa each winter, a tradition he continued until his retirement from the Dumas school district in 2006 after 30 years of teaching choral music.
His solo act expanded after he moved to Branson, Missouri. In 2003, he met Michele, also in the entertainment biz in the Ozark town. They soon made their first joint appearance as Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Starlite Theatre, dancing and swaying together to the delight of the children in the audience.
“She just kind of fell into the Santa Claus deal,” Garry said.
Their holiday act continued when they moved to the Highland Lakes in 2014.
Garry thrives on interaction, Michele said. His version of Santa is a jolly presence who never stays still for long. He loves mingling with the crowds while sharing laughter and cheer, making sure every child feels the magic of the season.
“If he sat there for 12 hours, the child who came last would get the same energy as the child who came first,” Michele said. “That’s just his demeanor about things.”
Whether their appearances are paid or purely for fun, Santa rarely arrives without Mrs. Claus by his side—a natural partnership for the real-life couple. Stepping into those beloved red and green outfits not only brings joy to others but also draws Michele and Garry closer together, adding a touch of magic to their own holiday spirit.
Garry’s transformation into the jolly ol’ elf begins in September, when he stops shaving, but that’s not all it takes to get into a Santa state of mind.
“It’s more than a costume; you have to become the character,” he said. “You’ve got to have the joy inside you. It’s not just the look.”
Over the decades, the roles of Santa and Mrs. Claus have become deeply personal for the pair. One of the most rewarding experiences is watching families grow year after year, Garry said.
One story stands out. Garry began taking photos with a little girl when she was just 3 months old, shortly after her adoption. He remained “her” Santa for 18 years, unknown to her until her wedding, when her parents revealed the secret. Even now, thinking about her journey moves Garry to tears.
“That’s probably the most meaningful,” he said of his encounters with young children.
Some memories carry a deeper, spiritual significance and capture the true meaning of Christmas for the Keslers. At The Church at Horseshoe Bay’s Christmas Eve event one year, Garry appeared as Santa, without his jacket, before the local children. He explained that he needed their help to get fully ready to spread holiday joy. Using the costume as a teaching moment, he invited the kids to assist him in putting on his coat and other accessories, carefully explaining that each piece of Santa’s attire held its own special meaning.
“They saw Santa go from a Christian man to make-believe, and in doing so, they understood that Santa is just another person,” Garry said. “It’s Christ in your life that really matters.”
The Keslers have also embraced creative variations of Santa. Garry’s most recent persona, “Texas Santa G,” features a cowboy hat and custom red and green boots, which have their own special story. His son traded a piece of artwork to a man in Lubbock, who offered five pairs of boots in return. One pair was customized into the festive boots that Garry wears as Santa.
Over the years, the Keslers have entertained audiences ranging in age from newborns to 101. They participate in private and public events, including a yearly Special Needs Christmas Party hosted by the Highland Lakes Service League. Michele recalled one boy who insisted Garry was the real Santa because of the occasional black hairs in his beard. The boy made a special treat of prickly pear jelly for Santa and later found Garry at another event to hand-deliver it.
“A lot of guys are in it for the money, but I’m in it for the fun,” Garry said.
Connections like these keep the Keslers motivated and the Christmas spirit alive. The couple even jokingly “crashes” holiday parties, confident that no one will kick out Santa.
When it comes to photos, the Keslers strive to be accommodating. They bring benches so people can sit beside them instead of on Santa’s lap if they are uncomfortable, and spend extra time with children who are nervous. Michele said comforting kids often involves mingling with their parents first to help the youngsters feel safe.
Through decades of appearances, the Keslers have built a legacy defined not by fame or fortune but by shared joy and connection, showing that the true spirit of Santa Claus is what you give and how you make people feel.