Gary Melton

Gary E. Melton, 60 of Casper, Wyoming, passed away Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at the Central Wyoming Hospice Home. A memorial mass will be 10 a.m., Saturday, February 16, 2008 at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Casper, Wyoming with Father August Koeune from St. Patrick's Catholic Church officiating.

He was born March 10, 1947 in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Donald and Marcella (Van Hole) Melton. He grew up and attended schools in Topeka, Kansas. He married Janet Fessler in 1969 and their son Alex was born to this union in 1972 and they later divorced. He met Liz Hall in 1977 and they married at St. Malo's Chapel on the Rocks on September 1, 1979. A few years later they moved to Powell, Wyoming so Gary could spend more time hunting and enjoying Wyoming's beautiful outdoors. One of his most exciting moments came in October of 1983 with his acquiring a trophy bighorn sheep. A few months later their daughter Katie was born. Shortly thereafter, they decided to give up their chickens, horses, mule, and idyllic country life to move to Billings, Montana. Three years later they relocated again to Casper, where they have enjoyed wonderful friends, beautiful Casper Mountain, and the rest of the beauty and opportunities Wyoming provides. He worked at Hilltop National Bank for 20 years before implications of cancer forced him to retire.
Gary was active in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He was a hunter safety instructor, competitive sharpshooter and he was well-known and often seen at the shooting range. He was a veritable encyclopedia on all matters- gun and hunting related, and he never thought twice about sharing his knowledge or equipment with anyone who shared his loves of hunting and shooting. Some of his favorite hunts included a buffalo, his bighorn sheep, and the trophy of his dreams, a 369 point elk . Gary also was an animal lover all his life, providing homes to numerous pets including his two cats GrayC and Isabelle.
Throughout his four year battle with cancer, Gary stayed positive and upbeat and always tried to have a new joke for his co-workers and for the medical staff he came to know so well.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Melton, Casper, WY; his son, Alex Mastema, Bellingham, WA; his daughter, Katie Janda, and her husband, Nick of Centennial, CO; his parents, Don and Marcella Melton, Tecumseh, KS and his sister, Sue Laird, and her husband, Charles of Tecumseh, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 5705 Grant Creek, Missoula, Montana 59808 or Casper Humane Society, 849 East E St, Casper, WY 82601

Newcomer Family Funeral Home in Casper, Wyoming is assisting the family.