Gary DeVries

GARY JAY DEVRIES “GOING 90 AND SMILING” Gary DeVries, our beloved friend, husband, son, father, brother, and grandfather passed away on Saturday, June 11th doing what he loved best: running cows while riding his favorite mount, Emmett, and helping his friends. Gary was a man who always offered a helping hand to others. He was the first one to arrive to work a branding or to help a friend with any job that needed to be done. Gary worked, loved and partied with a passion for life. His friends say there was no stop in Gary, he was always going 90 and smiling. Gary Jay DeVries was born in Billings on January 12, 1957 to Bruce & Lillian DeVries. He was raised in Molt and graduated from High School in Laurel. During his lifetime, Gary worked driving propane trucks for the Laurel and Worden Co-Ops, as Yard Boss at Billings Livestock, at Cenex Pipeline starting in 1986 and as a pumper at the Cenex Refinery in Laurel since 1990. Gary, known as Spike in his rodeo days, was always humble about his rodeo accomplishments. He gave up his bull rope to concentrate on ranching, but Gary continued to stay active through the Bridger Youth Rodeo, where he was fondly referred to as the “Goat Whisperer”. Gary met and married his wife, Callie Bither, (“the girl with the nice mane”) in April 1986, where they shared their dreams and love of ranching as they began their life together in Molt. Gary and Callie were life partners. They moved to Bridger in 1992 where they worked side by side, through sweat and tears to build their beautiful working ranch. Gary was known for being able to “build anything from nothing”. Gary DeVries is survived by his parents, Bruce & Lillian DeVries; his wife Callie DeVries; his sisters Shelley (John) Wold and Tracey (Jim) Schreiner; his children Callie (Tony) Kenyon, Chad (Linda) Caldwell and Greg Caldwell; his grandchildren Tyler, Alexia and Shayna Caldwell, Tylene and Kalee Moore and his little Biscuit, Tristan Gage Kenyon; including the many aunts, uncles, cousins in the DeVries and Wegner families. Gary leaves behind so many friends, fellow ranchers and co-workers who loved him and have had the pleasure of knowing this amazing man. Gary will always ride along in the hearts of “The Crew”: Paul, Sam, Pete, Merrill, Cliff, Ben and Lowell and he will remain vibrant in the memories of all the families he called his friends: the Loynings, Olsens, Pfiefers, McDowells, Knightons, Baumans, Halls, Kafkas, Murrays, Petersons, Garys Cenex Crew and the many other individuals who have touched his life. Gary knew better than most the true meaning of friendship --- we are counting on you to be our gate-man as we join you in the presence of the Father Almighty and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The family has asked that any Memorial Donations be made to either the Bridger Youth Rodeo, attn: Monica McDowell, PO Box 481, Bridger, MT 59014 or to Angel Horses, PO Box 20797, Billings, MT 59104. A memorial service to honor and remember Gary DeVries will be held Friday June 17, 2011 at the Bridger High Gymnasium at 11:00 am. Arrangements are in the care of Dahl Funeral Chapel; memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com.