"There can be no greater tribute to our father than to look out at his cherished Elk Mountain in the distance with a smile in our hearts."

Surrounded by his loving family at home, Gary Richard Withrow, age 85, was called home to be with those he loved so dearly.

It was September 22, 1940, in the small coal town of Hanna, Wyoming, that he was born into his loving family of Ray Thomas and Frances Love (Christensen) Withrow, two older brothers, Allan Ray and Ronald Irving. When he was only five years old his life changed when his oldest brother, Allan, was sent to Germany during World War II, and Ron attended college at the University of Wyoming while Gary and his parents moved to the Double 8 Ranch at the base of Elk Mountain. Gary attended school in a one room school house for two years in Keystone, Wyoming. From 3rd to 7th grade, he attended school in Elk Mountain before moving to LaPorte, Colorado in 1953. His parents purchased a dairy farm where he worked closely with his father every day, giving him his work ethic and love for animals that continued throughout his lifetime.

While in high school, he was part of the 1957 State Championship Football Team and graduated from Cache LaPoudre High School in 1959. Shortly thereafter, he married his high school sweetheart, Darlene Louise Helburg, on August 15, 1959.

Their young family of Bradley Richard, Sheri Lynne, Shelly Lee, and Shawn Leann were blessed to live up the lane from the dairy farm and able to be a bright spot of joy for their grandparents as they grew.

Around 1967, when his father retired, Gary and Darlene purchased a dairy farm in Timnath, Co where they lived for 6 years, at the end of that time Gary began to travel to Hanna, Wyoming where he worked with his brother, Ron, at Withrow Construction. That would be the beginning of his love as a heavy equipment operator, where he became accomplished, well known, and respected by his peers! Withrow Construction relocated to Rawlins, and his family then relocated in Rawlins to be together. His work took him across WY and into CO, constructing roads in the Medicine Bow Mountain Range. These roads have been and still are to this day traveled by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all embracing the knowledge that they were built by him. Our family enjoyed many camping trips to the mountains and Seminoe State Park. We made adventures out of following Brad throughout his high school and college career in baseball, football, and basketball.

Gary met his lifelong partner, Laura Marie Clark, and his family would grow by two with daughter Jacklyn Rae and son, Michael Alan. Laura and Gary had many adventures over their 47 years together traveling, to watch Michael play baseball all across the state, making memories along the way, and on trips with family and friends, including a cruise through Beautiful Alaska which holds many memories very dear in their hearts. Another treasured memory is when we would go for a ride out in the country to target shoot, breathe the fresh Wyoming air, and soak up some sun, and of course, we always had to make room for the fur babies to tag along!

Raising his family was his biggest joy in life as he watched and cheered on their many activities, achievements, and adventures! He loved deeply and his love for family was very precious to him.

Gary was a big Wyoming Cowboys fan, and enjoyed traveling to the University of Wyoming in Laramie to watch them play, he also loved to watch games from the comfort of his favorite recliner!! You could almost count on him having a Wyoming Cowboys shirt on and, of course, a matching hat!! Go Cowboys!!

Gary loved Wyoming, the beautiful mountains, the wide open spaces, but most of all the memories from childhood to the end of his life involving all that he loved!!

Gary would base the weather for the day on how the Elk Mountain looked out of his living room window, this was so very special to his heart and how he started each day!

He is survived by his six children, Bradley (Mary) Withrow, Larkspur, CO, Sheri (Richard) Parker of Cheyenne, WY, Shelly (Rick) Seldomridge of Rawlins, WY, Shawn (Randy) Wilkens of Loma, CO, Jacklyn Rae Withrow (Fiance John Lucero and son Jaidan) and Michael Alan Withrow, all of Rawlins, WY.

Nine grandchildren, Matthew Sage (Morgan) Withrow of Greenwich, CT. Tyler Davis (Shea) Parker of New Braunfels, Texas, Taryn Marie (Brant) Duncan of Cheyenne, Wy, Tori Lynne (Alexander) Krabbenhoft of Cheyenne, Wy. Justin Silas (Jessica ) Seldomridge, Tanya Lee (Anthony) Lucero, all of Rawlins, WY. Lyle Scott (Natalie) Wilkens of Grand Junction, CO. Elsie Raye (Seth) Lindsay of Saint George, UT.

Sixteen great-grandchildren, Reagan Mary, Ainsley Vivion, Matthew Colt, Rylan David, Austyn Marie, Sophia Marie Sue, Vivian Rose, Karter Davis, Piper Jaymes, Tucker John, Sydney Nicole, Silas Ryder, Talan Lee, Sutton Sophia LaRae, Tobias Nathaniel, Claira Josephine.

Gary was preceded in death by his father Ray Thomas Withrow, his mother Francis Love (Christensen) Withrow, brothers Allan and Ronald Withrow and sister-n-law, Jewell Lee Withrow.

Cremation has taken place, as the family will put him to rest beside his beloved parents and one of his brothers at a family graveside service in Fort Collins, CO at the Grandview Cemetery, on May 1st, 2026 @ 1:00 p.m.

There will be "A Celebration of His Life" later this summer in Rawlins. Time and Date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Rawlins National Bank and a donation in Gary’s name will given to the Rawlins High School Athletics and the American Legion Baseball In Fort Collins, Co.