Gary Lewis Petley, Sr. passed away February 1, 2018 while vacationing with his wife, Debbie, in Yuma, AZ. They had enjoyed much of their retirement with their friends, Doug and Shirley Degrote, in Yuma.
Gary was born to Dorothy (Clouse) and Robert Petley on June 27, 1952 in Walkerville (Butte), MT. He was the third child in a family of six children. Gary graduated in 1970 from Natrona County High School in Casper, WY. He went on to receive an Associate’s Degree in Diesel Technology from Casper College in 1972.
Gary owned many businesses over his lifetime, including Gary’s Truck & Diesel Service, Mountain West Motorsports and Galles Liquor Mart in Casper, WY. He was also the terminal manager for Sinclair Trucking in Casper. Gary moved with his family to Dubois, WY for a short time and owned Dubois Honda as well as enjoyed the Wyoming Mountains in the area. Gary invented, patented, and sold the ATV Stealth Exhaust System for Four Wheelers, a muffler to quiet the sound and add horsepower to ATVs. His invention was used by the British Special Forces in Afghanistan and was attached to ATVs used to capture and eliminate Osama Bin Laden. As a true patriot of this country, the Petley family was so proud of Gary for his contribution to protecting our country.
Gary thoroughly enjoyed camping and hunting in the mountains of Wyoming, his favorite being in Dubois. He raised his three boys, Gary, Jr., Craig, and Brett to enjoy the great outdoors with the same passion. There will be many great trips to come in his memory and the great storytelling will continue. He never wasted a moment to tell his family how proud of them he was and how happy they made him.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Robert, and brothers Jim, Bobby, and Ken. He is survived by his wife, Debbie, sons Gary, Jr. (Amanda), Craig Campbell (Heidi), and Brett (Kaia), sister Karen, brother John, eight grandchildren (Jacob Campbell, Tyler Hasbrouck, Haylie Hasbrouck, Trent Campbell, Jestine Petley, Calley Petley, Lillyauna Phillips, Logan Petley), one great-grandson (Neil Campbell) and another great-grandson on the way as well as many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will take place at Bustard’s Reception Center in Casper, WY on February 17, 2018 at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Bustard’s Funeral Home for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Casper Amateur Hockey Club.
Mass of Christian Burial for Katheryn (Holscher) Tripeny will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Saturday, February 10, 2018 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Vigil for the deceased will be recited at 7:00 pm, Friday, February 9, 2018 at Bustard’s Funeral Home. Visitation will be held prior to the Vigil from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Bustards.
Katheryn was born in Denver, Colorado on October 5, 1931 to Louis and Katheryn (Hennesy) Holscher and passed away on February 1, 2018 in Casper. She was the third of four children including Ann O’Keefe, Thomas Holscher and Frank Holscher. Her family moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska when she was five years old. They moved to Casper in her freshman year of high school. She graduated from NCHS in 1949. She graduated from Casper College in 1951 and attended the University of Wyoming. Upon returning from Laramie, she worked as a secretary for a number of the oil related companies in town.
In 1958, Katheryn married Robert Tripeny whom she had known from high school and church at St. Anthony’s Parish. They were married for 51 years until Bob’s death in 2009. She was a proud mother to six children: Tony (Mary) of Corning, Jim (Susan) of Bakersfield, Patrick (Mary-Martha) of Salt Lake City, Maria (Mac) of Minneapolis, Michelle (Jon Chin) of Denver and Rene’ (Janet Bush) of Minneapolis. She was also the proud grandmother of fifteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
As Katheryn’s children started going off to college, she decided to become even more active in her community and the social issues of Casper. She was the director of St. Anthony’s Northside Center for almost thirty years helping individuals and families with their particular needs. She helped start Interfaith of Natrona County, which carries on many of the services provided earlier by the Northside Center. She worked politically to help bring the WIC program to Wyoming. She served on several non-profit boards including the Wyoming State Nursing Board and the Casper College Alumni Board. She was recognized for this work by being given the Distinguished Alumni Award from Casper College. After retiring from her volunteer work, she enjoyed spending time traveling with Bob and visiting her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Katheryn is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Tom, several nieces and nephews but most of all by her loving husband Bob. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, her sister Ann, her brother Frank, her sister in laws and many nieces and nephews.
Katheryn’s desire was to remain in her home until the end of her life, which she did. This was only made possible by nieces, nephews and caregivers she surrounded herself with. The family would like to thank all those who help make her desires a reality.
The family would appreciate donations in Katheryn’s memory to Interfaith of Natrona County, Casper College Foundation, Blue Envelope Health Fund or any charity of your choice. She will be deeply missed by her family.
