Gary Ritchie

Gary L. Ritchie was born April 4, 1948 at Callaway, NE to Charles J. (Doc) and Wanda L. (Cool) Ritchie. Gary grew up on a farm west of Broken Bow. He was baptized as a young child in the Broken Bow E.U.B. church where he attended into young adulthood. Grade school years were at Ryno Dist. #218, graduating from Anselmo-Merna High School in 1965. Gary’s childhood was filled with 4-H animal projects and he loved the county fair. He rode with the Seven Valley’s Saddle Club, participating in individual and team events with his dad and brothers, Glenn and Rodger. It was a family activity enjoyed by all. Summers and after graduation were spent working for Johnnie and Dorothy Stivers near Callaway. He was drafted in the U.S. Army, March 1968 and honorably discharged March 1970. He was proud to serve his country, and was a Lifetime Member of the Leo Thomas Webb American Legion Post #50, Merna. Most of his Army assignments were in the south and Gary was hooked on living there. October 15, 1976 Gary married a Louisiana gal, Katherine Bel Poole. They purchased a home on Timber Hollow, forming lasting friendships with many neighbors; among them, Joe and Lois Smith who became the “Texas Grandparents.” The farm boy had left Nebraska, but true to his roots, his girls were able to have pot-bellied pigs and FFA steers, along with other pets. Gary worked as a machinist, first operating and then repairing the lathes and milling machines for many years prior to starting his own business. He loved traveling across the south even as far north as Chicago for his customers. He custom designed and built BBQ pits then built his own large trailer complete with BBQ pit for traveling to the many cook offs he so enjoyed. He especially liked cooking for returning veterans, friends and family. Whether it was the Super Bowl, 29 Palms Base in California, The Houston stock show, a family event or a fund-raiser, he always gave his best effort. Gary worked hard and he played hard. He built sturdy things to withstand years of use, just the way his father did before him. He protected his friendships of over 50 years and kept them close. He could plan and design and construct a way around any mechanical problem. But in the end, he could not defeat the lung cancer that he battled for two years. In his own home, and surrounded by his family, he passed to an eternal rest with Jesus on June 28, 2015. His family is deeply grateful for Grace Hospice and the loving care provided by James Fairfax and Bonita Ritchie. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert C. and Emma J. (Gibson) Ritchie; Glenn H. and Opal M. (Huffman) Cool; his father, Charles J. (Doc); brother, Rodger, nephew, Jason and great-nephew, Trace. He leaves to mourn, his daughters, Kristi (James) Fairfax, Adaja and Aydain, Houston; Kari (Paul) Ivey, Wyatt, Weston and Wade, Imperial, TX; his mother, Wanda of Merna; two brothers, Glenn (Barb Bacon), Berwyn; Marvin (Deborah), Arnold; sister-in-law, Bonita Ritchie, Broken Bow; one sister, Nancy (Kenneth) Newman, Sutherland, NE; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. Funeral services will be held at Govier Brothers Funeral Home on Monday, July 6, 2015, at 2:00 PM, with Kevin Weatherby, Save the Cowboy, Kiowa, CO presiding. Burial will be in Cliff Union Cemetery, military rites provided by Merna American Legion Post #50. Visitation will be held on Sunday July 5, 2015, 1 PM to 6 PM with the family greeting friends 4 PM to 5 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary.