Gary Lee Shriver

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Gary Lee Shriver, 66, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2021, in Morristown, Ariz., surrounded by his wife and children.

Gary was born June 4, 1954, in Pinedale, Wyo., to Fred and Erma Shriver. Gary was the youngest of five sons that Fred and Erma had: Kenneth, Donald, Frank and Fred. Gary and his brothers were raised on the family ranch just outside of Pinedale. While attending high school, Gary began dating Anne Wall, his future wife. After graduating high school in 1972, Gary attended college for two years at Weber State in Ogden, Utah, where he was an athletic trainer for the football and wrestling teams. Gary returned to Pinedale as soon as he turned 21 and started working for the Wyoming Department of Transportation. He worked for WYDOT for 32 years and retired on June 1, 2007, as the maintenance foreman.

On July 20, 1973, Gary married Anne Wall. They built a home on Willow Creek next to the family ranch and raised three children there: Doug, Jared and Amy. They later divorced in 1994.

Gary was a certified EMT and volunteered for the ambulance service for many years. After his father passed away in 1994, Gary took on the role of managing the family gravel pit. Additionally, throughout the years, Gary and his good friend Barney would take on jobs of building fence and cutting firewood. Gary was a downhill ski coach and activity bus driver for the Sublette County School District. He had the honor to coach all three of his children during their high school years and he loved every minute of it.

Gary met Ruth Shaffer in early 1998 and they were married May 2, 1998. Ruth brought two children to the marriage, Nicole and Adriane. In 1999, they opened their own local business, Picture This, where they developed film and offered other photography services. In 2002, Gary and Ruth started a framing business out of their home. This gave Gary and Ruth the unique opportunity to put both of their talents to good use; Gary would build the frames and Ruth would cut the mattes and place the pictures. In 2010 they chose to move to warmer weather and moved to Morristown, Ariz. Gary loved riding his side-by-side in the desert. He was also Ruth’s biggest supporter in her love of horsemanship and showing.

Gary lived a long and happy life. His family has memories of him working hard to support them but also being present in their lives outside of his career. They camped across Fremont Lake every Fourth of July and Gary’s Dutch oven fried chicken is fondly remembered by all. Gary was always a realist and he worked hard to ensure all of his children shared this quality. He wanted them to be self-sustaining by the time they left his home to build their own lives, and he succeeded at this. Gary was also a fighter; in his 66 years on this Earth he fought numerous issues with his heart and three different kinds of cancer. Naturally, these experiences led Gary to be strong in his faith in God. He served as an Elder and youth group leader at the Pinedale Bible Church. Gary was a pillar of strength and courage, he was a reminder about all that’s good in this world, and he was always a contributor in his community, to his family, and to everyone who was lucky enough to have met him.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents and his oldest brother Kenneth. He is survived by his wife Ruth; children, Doug (Amanda), Jared (Jena), Amy (Casey), stepdaughters Nicole and Adriane; 12 grandchildren: Quinton, Cameron, Samuel, Tessa Rose, Bailee, Tavi, Zachary, Brooklynn, Tylynn, Victoria, Kylie and Avery; his brothers and many nieces and nephews.

Please join the family is celebrating the life of Gary Shriver on July 3, 2021, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Lovatt Room (Sublette County Library).