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Gary Marston Viner

Gary Marston Viner passed away on August 6, 2017, the result of a shooting accident.
Gary, born 1950 in Laramie, was the eldest son of Herbert Douglas Viner and Mildred Wiant Viner. He graduated from Laramie High School in 1968 and after his freshman year at the University of Wyoming, joined the U. S. Navy. Gary was initially trained as an Electronics Technician and was first stationed on Guam. He then served aboard the USS Vancouver (LPD- 2) during the Viet Nam conflict, where the ship participated in mine clearing operation End Sweep.
Gary changed specialties to the dental field where he served as a Dental Technician with a subspecialty in equipment repair. He was stationed in Brunswick, Maine; San Diego, California; and on Okinawa where he was attached to the U. S. Marine Corps. After his active service of 11 years, he remained in the Naval Reserve, retiring with the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
His second career was as an educator, having graduated from the University of Wyoming. He taught in Rock River and Laramie with students in Industrial Arts and CADD, Computer-Aided Drafting and Design. He retired from Laramie High School in 2005.
After retiring, Gary enjoyed exploring the outdoors, hunting, fishing, riding trails in his ATV, gardening, rock hounding and polishing the semi-precious stones he collected.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife Marianne, daughter Kecy Viner and her husband John Davis and their son Aaron Davis all of Aurora, Colorado, son Kyler and girlfriend Angela, and brother Kim and his wife Barbara all of Laramie.
Cremation has taken place. A brief military ceremony will be held at Montgomery Stryker Funeral home Friday August 11, 2017, at 2 p.m. to which those wishing to pay respects are invited.
The family suggests donations to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a disease which afflicted his mother, in lieu of flowers.

57 Comments (Open | Close)

57 Comments To "Gary Marston Viner"

#1 Comment By Heather Shilling On August 8, 2017 @ 4:39 pm

He was one of my favorite teachers. May he rest in peace.

#2 Comment By Tammy Speechley On August 8, 2017 @ 6:50 pm

I’m so sorry. He was a great man.

#3 Comment By Vanesa Lopez On August 8, 2017 @ 8:08 pm

My deepest condolences to his family. I had the opportunity to met him and he was a wonderful human being. He and his family open their home to me all the times. I am truly sorry about his lost, may God bring peace to all his family .

#4 Comment By Elaine Walrath On August 8, 2017 @ 8:45 pm

Mr. Viner was one of my favorite teachers and played an integral part in helping me become the person that I am. His light burns on even though he is no longer with us. My condolences to his family and everyone else whose live he touched.

#5 Comment By Carol Viner Finney On August 8, 2017 @ 8:46 pm

I am so very sorry to hear of Gary’s death… although I haven’t seen him for many years I will always remember the fun we had at the ranch in Encampment. He was a good cousin.

#6 Comment By Dicksie May On August 8, 2017 @ 8:48 pm

Sorry to hear of your loss. It’s hard to lose a husband, father and sibling. You have my condolences!

#7 Comment By Lynn Viner On August 8, 2017 @ 8:54 pm

Sorry to hear about Gary. I still remember him giving a ride in his new car listening big wheels keep on rolling down the dirt rode at the ranch.
Lynn Viner

#8 Comment By Anonymous On August 8, 2017 @ 10:20 pm

We are so saddened to learn of Gary’s passing. He was a wonderful person, classmate and friend with a great sense of humor. Many blessings are wished to his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all, in this difficult time.
Mike and Nancy (Soll) Meyers, Chandler Arizona

#9 Comment By Rafael andrade On August 8, 2017 @ 10:41 pm

I had taken a CAD class from Gary when I returned home from being in the navy. Having served in the navy we hit it off right away, he was always so positive when I would run into him. He will be dearly missed. RIP!
Rafael Andrade

#10 Comment By Kathleen White On August 9, 2017 @ 5:29 am

What a sad loss for all of us who knew him. May He rest in peace.
With love from,
Kathleen and Phil White.

#11 Comment By Brendon Orr On August 9, 2017 @ 7:07 am

Mr. Viner was one of my favorite teachers at LHS. I always looked forward to his classes and spending time in his break room in between dedicated CAD sessions. He struck a unique balance between supporting me and challenging me that proved instrumental in his classes and would continue to help me in college and my career. We would also discuss all sorts of issues related life and the world. We didn’t always see eye to eye, but I always felt that he respected me as a growing young man. He was a mentor just as much as if not more so than a high school teacher. My sincere condolences to his family. Please know that he had such a positive impact on myself and others.

#12 Comment By Liz and Dave Sellke On August 9, 2017 @ 7:18 am

Dave and I are so saddened by Gary’s passing. We conducer Gary and his family a part of our family. Our family reunion in Estes Park will not be the same without Gary’s smiling face! My family and Dave’s thought the world of him!. Being Mari’s maid of honor was one of the greatest honors I have had. Spending time with Gary’s family in Laramie, I knew that My friend Mari was going to be very happy! Mari truly met her soulmate! Love to you all! Love you Gary!
Liz , Dave, Erika and Peter

#13 Comment By Sandy Steele On August 9, 2017 @ 7:22 am

I have so many wonderful memories of Gary as a colleague and friend. I am so sorry for your loss.

#14 Comment By Anonymous On August 9, 2017 @ 8:40 am

Marianne,
My thoughts & prayers are with you & your family during this difficult time. I didn’t know your hubby personally, but know you would have chosen a good one! May God bless you all and give you strength in the days ahead.
Don Bonenberger “Bones”

#15 Comment By Joshua Baldwin On August 9, 2017 @ 8:45 am

May deepest condolences to friends and family of Gary. He played an important roll in my older brother’s life and mine as well. He gave guidance to both of us in our early adulthood. My Brother, David Hardgrave made a career for himself in the Navy due to the support and leadership from Gary. Rest in Peace.

#16 Comment By Cary Cowper On August 9, 2017 @ 8:50 am

My thoughts and prayers go out to you Kim, Barbara and his family. He will be missed beyond words. God bless.

#17 Comment By Ian Hanschen On August 9, 2017 @ 8:50 am

When I was in high school, Mr. Viner pushed my parents to look into the symptoms of what was ultimately a brain tumor. After surgery, Mr. V. visited my hospital room, even through the surgery was in Denver. I’m probably still around because of him taking action. He was a great teacher – I’m thankful I got to know him and he will be missed.

#18 Comment By Sam koty On August 9, 2017 @ 8:52 am

Very sorry to hear this sad news about Gary. He will certainly be missed. Sam and Linda Kotby

#19 Comment By Anonymous On August 9, 2017 @ 9:10 am

Brian Comly

Mr. Viner was a great teacher and a friend. I am lucky to have known him He inspired me to join the NAVY and become my own man. Fair winds and flowing seas shipmate

#20 Comment By Anonymous On August 9, 2017 @ 9:26 am

My condolences Kim and Barb and to the entire Viner Family. So very sorry to hear of your loss. Carolyn Nielsen Herman

#21 Comment By Roy and Betty Euroiste On August 9, 2017 @ 10:09 am

Our deepest sympathies for the Viner family loss. We were classmates of Gary’s since 4th grade. He had a wonderful sense of humor and always could get the teachers in good moods with his silly antics. He was master of ceremony at our 40th class reunion. It was our blessing to know him. Roy Eurioste and Betty Montoya Eurioste – Aurora, colorado

#22 Comment By Nancy Denniston On August 9, 2017 @ 10:52 am

So sorry to hear of Gary’s passing. He loved life, his friends and family. I remember how he and my husband discussed their passion for motorcycles! My condolences.

#23 Comment By Anonymous On August 9, 2017 @ 11:05 am

Ken & Karen Speicher
We lost a very dear friend. Back in our Navy days, we spent a year with Gary on Okinawa, where he became a member of our family. Despite the distance between us, we kept in touch over the years. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.

#24 Comment By Wanda L. Carter On August 9, 2017 @ 11:50 am

Mari…my heart is very saddened. I know how much Gary meant to you thru our 30+ years of friendship. I am so glad we were able to spend time with both of you this past summer in Arizona. Prayers for you and your family.

#25 Comment By Anonymous On August 9, 2017 @ 12:26 pm

Our Deepest and Sincerest Condolences to the Viner Family. You have our most heart
felt sympathy. John and Sharron Davis

#26 Comment By Sharron On August 9, 2017 @ 12:32 pm

My deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Viner family. My heart aches for your loss Kecy, I never got to meet your dad, but I knew how much you loved him. May he rest in peace.

#27 Comment By Gwen Cruickshank On August 9, 2017 @ 4:15 pm

Could hardly believe my eyes when i read of his passing. What a wonderful teaching partner. Gary helped my youngest son,BOB CRUICKSHANK, when Bob was going to LHS. Their friendship began when Bob took CAD from him. They were big pals throughout BOBS HIGH SCHOOL YEARS. So sorry for your families great loss. He had a way to teach his students and they respected him a great deal. Your family members are in my prayers. Gwen Cruickshank

#28 Comment By Patti and Ron Kopriva On August 9, 2017 @ 5:05 pm

Kim:. We were so sorry to hear about your brother from our daughter in Laramie. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Barb, and your family. Remember the good memories of Gary and know that we are thinking of you in this difficult time. Patti and Ron

#29 Comment By Jenenne Nelson On August 9, 2017 @ 8:24 pm

I was so sorry to hear of Gary’s untimely death. I am thinking of you and your family. Jenenne

#30 Comment By Amanda Sluss On August 10, 2017 @ 7:30 am

Marianne, I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. Thinking about you and praying for you during the horrible time.

#31 Comment By Paul Greaser On August 10, 2017 @ 9:06 am

Deepest sympathies to Gary’s family and other friends. I so enjoyed reacquainting with Gary at the rec center the last couple of years. He never lost his positive outlook and was really enjoying retirement. Paul Greaser

#32 Comment By Elaine Lambert On August 10, 2017 @ 10:02 am

I wanted to express my heartfelt condolences to all the Viner family. For right now, there’s no detour around grief, no shortcut through mourning. However, 2 Cor.4:7 says that God can give us, “… power beyond what is normal “, to go from one day to the next. This does not mean that we no longer cry, or that we forget. It means we recover. We recover because of our hope. Jesus Christ talked about our hope in John 5:28, “… all those in the memorial tomb will hear his voice and come out “. Jesus was referring to the resurrection. That is our amazing hope! The Bible likens our hope to an anchor. Just like an anchor stabilizes a ship, our hope stabilizes us and keeps us from drowning in overwhelming sadness. 2 Cor.1:3 describes our Creator as, “… the God of all comfort “. One way that God comforts us is by moving people who care about us to give us words of encouragement that we need to hear. May the God of comfort be your comfort now, during this time of sorrow. For the Bible’s answers to life’s big questions please visit JW.org.

#33 Comment By Cheryl Wittstock On August 10, 2017 @ 10:05 am

Mari,
So sorry to hear about Gary. I am thinking of you and I will keep you in my prayers

#34 Comment By Mary and Jeff On August 10, 2017 @ 8:19 pm

Kim and Barb, we are so sorry for your heartbreaking loss. Love and prayers you you and all the family.Mary and Jeff

#35 Comment By Jim & Deanna Johnson On August 10, 2017 @ 4:32 pm

Dear Viner Family,
Clearly, Gary was a one of a kind. We will all miss him. I am a friend and classmate since 3rd grade and also lived by the Viner family in West Laramie and rode bikes with Gary. We had such fun! He recently brought me some copies of the Scout Echo, a newspaper published in Junior High School and we had a good laugh. I’m going to miss that man! I echo Cheryl Wittstock’s sentiments. I will be visiting Marianne soon.
Love,
Deanna Stickley Johnson

#36 Comment By The Angeles On August 10, 2017 @ 5:01 pm

Claire, Katie and Alek Angele send their deepest prayers to you, Mari, Kecy and Kyler. He was everything to you and we pray for Gary and all of you.

#37 Comment By Shea Foster On August 10, 2017 @ 6:44 pm

I still can’t believe I received this news, and it is even tougher to read it; the words just blur out. Mr. Viner you were a true inspiration to me, and after making Chief this year I can call you a brother. I wish I could have told you the news in person because I joined the Navy to be an ET like you. Thank you so much for pushing me out of my comfort zone. Until we meet again, fair winds and following seas.

#38 Comment By Jean Christensen On August 10, 2017 @ 8:58 pm

Marianne and Kim, Everyone who knew Gary is sad beyond words. He was such a good and fun guy. We are lucky to have known him.

#39 Comment By Jim and Ro Peak On August 11, 2017 @ 7:46 am

Our deepest sympathy to Kim, Marianne and their children. You are in our thoughts. Gary was a tremendously skilled professional who was admired and respected by his colleagues. Our son Jeremiah is the CAD field to this day largely because of classes and guidance from Mr. Viner. So sorry for your loss.

#40 Comment By Rob Marquaardt On August 11, 2017 @ 9:36 am

A very sad day when I heard of Garys passing. My condolences to the entire Viner family.

#41 Comment By Kay Kohler On August 11, 2017 @ 10:54 am

Oh, Mari, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. May you find comfort in fond memories.

#42 Comment By Anonymous On August 11, 2017 @ 12:27 pm

Marianne, I am so sorry to hear about your loss of your husband. I heard a lot about him through various students but never had the pleasure of meeting him. You and I became friends through the choir and I have always had great respect for you. Please accept my sympathy during this tragic time. My prayers and hugs go to you and your family. Lynn Broughton

#43 Comment By Kim Sorenson On August 11, 2017 @ 12:28 pm

Gary was a very popular educator who always rooted for the underdog and gave of himself to his students and fellow staff members. He was quick with a compliment or a word of encouragement, and had a wonderful sense of humor. I have fond memories of Gary.

#44 Comment By Dave Hardgrave On August 11, 2017 @ 2:28 pm

I only graduated high school because of this man’s guidance. He was great teacher before I planned on enlisting in the navy. Once comittted to joining. Gary helped prepare me for what was to come combined with helping me focus to graduate high school. He will be missed, and I owe him a frat deal

#45 Comment By Lois Pine On August 11, 2017 @ 3:32 pm

Dear Mari and Family, I am so sorry to hear about Gary. I always enjoyed visiting with both of you when ever we got together at hospital functions. Gary was such a good influence to both of our boys. He really guided them down the right paths. I know that you all are going to really miss him. Know that he is looking down from heaven and in his own ways will continue to give you the love and support you need, just ask him and he will help you. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. The Pine Family

#46 Comment By Nancy (Trabing) Mickelson On August 11, 2017 @ 4:28 pm

We are sorry to hear of the loss of Gary-losing a family member leaves a big hole in your heart that is very hard to heal! We were all West Laramie neighbors as kids growing up. Nancy (Trabing) Mickelson

#47 Comment By Anonymous On August 11, 2017 @ 4:29 pm

We are sorry to hear of the loss of Gary-losing a family member leaves a big hole in your heart that is very hard to heal! We were all West Laramie neighbors as kids growing up. Nancy (Trabing) Mickelson

#48 Comment By Joel Schwartzkopf On August 11, 2017 @ 4:40 pm

Mr. Viner was a fantastic educator, and a role model and inspiration to me at a very difficult time in my life, when my mother passed away in my junior year of high school. I know my life would look different today if it had not been for him. I have happy memories of sitting with him in his office, or the “lounge” room he constructed, talking about everything from rock and roll to my future after high school. A few years ago, after I commissioned in the Army National Guard, I reached out to him and let him know how important his influence was to me in my early life. I’m thankful we had that opportunity to reconnect. He will always be a role model to me. Rest In Peace, Chief.

#49 Comment By Anonymous On August 11, 2017 @ 8:45 pm

A teacher who genuinely cared for students. Thank you for all the encouragement. You will not be forgotten .

#50 Comment By Jim Lee On August 12, 2017 @ 4:55 am

I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Gary was a great man . I enjoyed the time I had with him working on the Diamond Ranch out in McFadden. We Damn sure had a lot of fun and he will Damn sure be missed.

#51 Comment By Gary and Marilyn Scarpelli On August 12, 2017 @ 7:37 am

Gary touched so many people. Gary and I have known each other since junior high school. Our prayers are for all of your family. Gary taught our youngest daughter and she always said she loved his class. Again, our thoughts and prayers are with your family.

#52 Comment By Randy Martin On August 13, 2017 @ 7:14 am

I was so sorry to hear about Gary’s death. Gary and I went to school from the 2nd grade through graduation in 1968. We were all part of the group of kids who grew up and played together in West Laramie. My thoughts and prayers are with Gary’s family, friends, and classmates.

#53 Comment By JM On August 13, 2017 @ 9:03 pm

Mr. Viner went out of his way to support my academic progress during a dark period in my youth, travelling hundreds of miles and allowing me to essentially complete two years of coursework in one year because he saw the potential in me that few did. Rest in peace, Gary!

#54 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2017 @ 6:55 am

What a lost. Gary and I served together for many years in the U.S. Navy Reserves, in Cheyenne. I then had the privilege of serving with his wife in the Wyoming Air National Guard. Gary and I developed a close friend ship while serving together. A finer shipmate as there ever was.

#55 Comment By Anonymous On August 15, 2017 @ 9:16 am

What a lost. Gary and I served together for many years in the U.S. Navy Reserves, in Cheyenne. I then had the privilege of serving with his wife in the Wyoming Air National Guard. Gary and I developed a close friend ship while serving together. A finer shipmate and friend as there ever was.

#56 Comment By Susan Bovee On August 16, 2017 @ 2:59 pm

It’s enormous to lose Gary. Throughout high school, he was among my very closest friends. There were about half a dozen of us who road bicycles (and later drove) together, seeking things and places of interest to us as boy (and girl) scouts. One of my best memories was created in Laramie’s original hospital. Only one or two visitors at a time were permitted to me as I lay recovering from an appendectomy. Somehow, (possibly as designed by Gary) five or six or seven of my high school friends, with Gary at the rear, arrived one or two at a time. Since none of them left, the hospital room was crowded with teenagers and loud laughter as long as visiting hours lasted. It hurt to laugh with an incision, but I was so glad to spend time with my friends that I gladly endured the pain. Gary’s loss hurts my heart, but it was so good to have been his friend that I gladly endure the ongoing pain of his passing.

#57 Comment By Cindy Gashler Hardesty On August 18, 2017 @ 10:30 pm

To the Viner Family: I was a classmate and friend with Gary since grade school! I will always remember his wonderful sense of humor and great smile. He was definitely a person that everyone who knew would remember. He loved his family and he told me at one of the class reunions that after serving in the Navy and then returning to Laramie that he realized how much he loved Wyoming and knew he had to own a piece of it. So he went out and bought a piece of land and has been here ever since! I was so looking forward to seeing him at the 50th Class Reunion next year, but it seems God had another plan for him. Please accept my condolences for your loss. Gary was a special person and will definitely be missed by all who knew him. Rest In Peace my friend. Cindy Gashler Hardesty