Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Bruce "Gary" Harvey Garretson, 74, passed away peacefully at the University of Colorado Hospital on March 25, 2024 surrounded by his three loving children.
Gary, as he was known to his family and friends, was an energetic, selfless, fun-loving man with a big smile and an infectious laugh. He had a love for action and adventure and was often found taking a scenic motorcycle ride, shooting guns in the hills, watching one of his favorite karate movies, showing a stranger a magic trick, doing karate or pumping iron. Throughout the years, Gary loved taking friends and family on camping and boating trips where he would love to ski across the lake.
Gary was an amazing musician. He had a majestic voice and was a virtuoso on the guitar. He often performed at family gatherings, social events, and local watering holes, and very quickly had the entire group singing along and dancing. His talent moved souls and his smile lit up the room. He was brought up with a guitar in his hand alongside his father, and together they formed a band called The Four Horseman that played often around Wyoming.
He was an amazing father to his three children and a loyal, loving husband to his high school sweetheart, Karen, whom he married in 1970.
Gary was an amazing businessman and an even better salesman. He grew up in Worland and after marrying Karen, they soon started many businesses, selling everything from water purifiers, hot tubs, and waterbeds to trampolines. Their friends called them the dynamic duo. Soon after, Gary got into the vacuum business and thrived at selling Patriot vacuums door to door all across Wyoming. He was still running his successful vacuum business in 2024 with a long list of dedicated clients that all became great friends. He was known across Wyoming and loved by many for his talent, his passion for business, his optimism, and his selflessness in lending a hand or opening his arms to anyone.
Gary was born on April 23, 1949 and was a lifelong resident of Worland. His parents were Josephine Dorothy Garretson and the well-known local music icon, Lee Garretson, whom together with created a legacy by starting several first-generation family-owned businesses.
Gary is survived by his daughter Cammy Vuksanovic and son-in-law Alex Vuksanovic of San Diego, California, his daughter Tina Bahmer and son-in-law Steve Bahmer of Tallahassee, Florida, and their six children, Allison, Madeline, Olivia, Ben, Jack and Luke, and his son Justin Garretson, his cousins, Janis Bozeman, Donnis Arens, Joyce Martin, Dell Garretson, Saundra Lenneman and Laurie Mitchell, among countless other cousins.
Gary's energy, smile, enthusiasm and joy for life. He spent his final days doing what he loved, playing his guitar and exploring the badlands. He was the epitome of strength, vigor, loyalty and love. He was a good man and will be missed by many.
Services will be held at Cross Point Baptist Church, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 2PM. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryant
funeralhomeonline.com.