Gary Starkey

Gary L. Starkey, age 80, passed away on Monday, December 6, 2021.

Born on February 4, 1941 in Ogallala, Nebraska, into a generations-long railroad family.  Gary had a life-long love of learning; he was very upset when, as a young child, he was only allowed to borrow books from the children’s section of the public library.  While reading the encyclopedia at home, page after page, he was intrigued by the topic of “chemistry” and away he went into loving science.  This eventually led him to major in Physics and Math at the University of Nebraska, where he graduated in 1963.  After graduation, he was commissioned in the US Army as a second Lieutenant and served his country for 20 years.  During those years he received his Master’s Degree in Statistical Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  After retiring from the Army in 1985, he continued to work as a civilian in various industries, bringing his analytical skills to each job.

He met his wife Janet while polishing his yellow Corvette one Saturday evening in 1974.  How he loved that Stingray!  He and Janet were married in 1975, and new adventures began, including having two beautiful daughters, Kati and Lyne.

The family of four moved to Colorado in 1993, and Gary loved the seasons, as well as traveling to all corners of the state, looking for every train ride possible.  He particularly enjoyed the Durango-Silverton line, while wearing his railroad hat, complete with pins from various train rides he had taken over the years.

If you wanted to do something, you had better believe that Gary would do everything in his power to make it happen. “Go for it!”, he would say.

Gary is survived by Janet, as well as Kati Hughes (Rich), Lyne Starkey, and two grandchildren.

Gary’s Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 28, 2022, at Green Mountain United Methodist Church, 12755 West Cedar Drive, Lakewood, CO 80228 at 11 AM.  Interment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery for the family members.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heart of Hope: the Caralynn Titter Foundation, which supports pediatric heart transplant patients and their families.  Their address is P.O. Box 428, in West Grove, PA 19390, or you may donate online.  The foundation established in Cara’s memory was near and dear to Gary’s heart.

Heaven has gained a good man, but this earth has lost a strong provider, a fine husband, a great father, and a fantastic grandfather.

Please share your memories of Gary and condolences with his family by signing the tribute wall.