On September 9, 2023, the world lost a funny, smart, loving, and dedicated family man – Gary Burton Rocky. Born June 27, 1944, in Taft, California to Burton and Maxine Rocky, Gary moved to Sioux City, Iowa as a young child. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the Navy and loyally and faithfully served his country from 1962-1966 on a nuclear submarine during the Vietnam war.
Sioux City was where he was meant to be to meet the love of his life, Beverly Faye Dawdy. A stroke of luck on both sides, a delayed tire repair for him, and leaving home without a packed lunch for her, ended in their meeting and falling in love. After finishing in the Navy, he quickly married Beverly in 1967, excited to begin new adventures and forge a future together. First, they moved to Iowa City where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Iowa and later, he went on to earn a master’s degree in engineering from Southern Methodist University. Together they built multiple successful engineering businesses together and shared a life of 56 years.
Although he was professionally successful, he would say the best achievements of his life were his children and grandchildren. He took pride in all their accomplishments and cheered them on through each of their endeavors. He was so proud to tell people that he had a lawyer, a veterinarian, and a doctor as his children.
As much as he was built to be an engineer, he lived some of his happiest years as a rancher. He used his engineering knowledge to build all sorts of structures, barns, and fences. He dug wells and built roads. From leveling the ground and laying foundations to adding the electrical and plumbing, he did it all. He loved ranching, especially his cows, horses, and donkeys. His real joy came from sharing all he built with his children and grandchildren. He loved watching them ride horses, feed donkeys, kayak in the pond he and his son dug out, and watching the grandchildren ride bicycles through his building. He filled his family with knowledge and confidence and surrounded them with love. He was an amazing man who always made the ones he loved feel incredibly special. He will be missed more than he could ever imagine.
Gary is survived by his wife, Beverly Rocky; his children, Shelly Rocky, Jonathan (Lauri) Rocky, and Amy (Jeff) Brackeen; his half-brothers, Randy (Wanda) Estes and Rick (Lori) Estes; his grandchildren, Avery and Ella Rocky, and William, Paige, and Benjamin Brackeen. He is preceded in death by his father, Burton Rocky, mother, Maxine Estes, stepfather, George Estes, and brother, Steve Rocky.
Join us in celebrating Gary’s life at a memorial service on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 2:00p.m. at First Baptist Church of Campbell. Our family thanks you deeply for joining us in remembering Gary Rocky’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express their sympathy to consider making a donation to First Baptist Church of Campbell.
