GARY LEE SMITH
GARY LEE SMITH
Sept. 18, 1944–Jan. 21, 2022
Gary Lee Smith, 77, of North Platte, Neb., passed away Jan. 21, 2022, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Gary was born Sept. 18, 1944, to Albert Lee and Edel (Petersen) Smith in Great Falls, Mont.
Gary grew up in Newcastle, Wyo., graduating from Newcastle High School in 1963. He worked as a disc jocky in Rapid City, S.D., and a television announcer. He was involved with a scuba diving group that helped with search and recovery. Then he moved to Fallon, Nev., where he continued his radio career.
Gary met and married his first wife Karen. To this union a son, Richard Lee, was born. Then he moved back to Newcastle, then Buffalo, Wyo., then to Rapid City. Eventually he moved to Gering, Neb., where he became a police officer.
Gary was married to Betty J. Coleman on Aug. 21, 1978, in Scottsbluff, Neb. He was a sergeant with the Gering Police Department. They moved to Newcastle in 1982 where he was a police officer and deputy sheriff, Justice of the Peace and eventually chief of police for Newcastle.
They then moved to O’Neill, Neb., where he was chief of police, retiring in 2003. The couple moved to North Platte in 2003 where he was chaplain for the North Platte Police Department, North Platte Fire Department and Lincoln County Sheriff Department. Gary officiated many ceremonies and funerals in North Platte during his time here. He assisted the local law enforcement in any way he could. He was a road captain for the Patriot Guard and served on the committee for the Police Memorial in Grand Island. He was a chaplain for many motorcycle shows and rallies, filled the pulpit for Sunday services for area churches and spoke at services at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Gary was involved in the annual Mikey Ride in Wallace, Neb., and was past president of the Platte Valley Gun Club.
Survivors include his wife, Betty of North Platte; son, Richard L. (Jen) Smith, Ohio; four grandchildren; one sister, Deb (Gary Wilson) Smith, Newcastle; two nieces, Anna (Aaron) Logan, and Jenny Mosley of Newcastle; along with other family members and numerous friends.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in
Gary’s name.
Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. Jan. 26, at the Cody Park Pavilion, North Platte, with Fire Chief Dennis Thompson and Ray Richards officiating. The Patriot Guard was in attendance. Book signing was noon to 5 p.m. on Jan. 25 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home, who was in charge of arrangements.
The service was live-streamed via the Adams & Swanson Facebook page for those unable to attend.