Gary Merrill Rees was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 20, 1949, and passed away at his home in Big Piney, Wyoming, on August 8, 2026.

Gary was the eldest son of Merrill and Emma Rees. He began his life on his grandparents’ homestead, Fontenelle Ranch, where the Fontenelle Reservoir is now located. Gary was especially close to his Grandpa Olof, who sparked in him a lifelong curiosity and love for trucks/tractors and how they worked. That interest stayed with Gary throughout his life.

In 1962, the family moved to the Middle Piney Ranch, where Gary and his brothers grew up. Gary graduated from Big Piney High School in 1967 and went on to attend Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. He decided that he had received all the education he needed and left school about six months before graduating. Needless to say, his parents were not particularly impressed with that decision! Gary, however, came home and went right to work, taking on a variety of jobs and beginning the hardworking life that would define him.

In the fall of 1972, Gary met a farm girl from Riverton, Wyoming, and somehow managed to sweep her off her feet. He married Jennifer June Mills on June 15, 1974, beginning a partnership that would last for 52 wonderful years.

Gary worked for Belco Petroleum before deciding to take a chance on starting a business of his own. In March 1976, he and Jennifer took a leap of faith, bought their own truck, and started Mountain States Water Service. Gary worked tirelessly to build the business, often spending many days and nights away from home and living at different rig locations. His determination and work ethic helped turn that small beginning into a successful business.

Gary and Jennifer were blessed with three children: Tami, Michelle, and Jeffery. Family was always important to Gary, and many of his happiest memories were made with the people he loved. He and Jennifer enjoyed snowmobiling during the winter months and spent many hours working alongside his brother Chuck at ice drag races. They also loved traveling with friends to different NASCAR races, making memories along the way.

During the summer months, you could almost always find Gary and Jennifer in the hay fields at the ranch. Gary truly enjoyed working the land, putting up hay, and taking care of the ranch. In 2008, they moved back to the ranch and semi-retired, settling into the slower pace of ranch life. Gary was happiest when he was close to the land he loved.

He also enjoyed going into town, sitting down for a cup of coffee with his friends, and catching up on all the local news. Gary had a genuine interest in people and in what was happening around him, and those coffee conversations were an important part of his daily life.

Gary will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Jennifer, of 52 years; his children, Tami Hunter (Caroline Kamoe) of Ogden, Utah; Michelle (Mike) Palo of Port Orange, Florida; and Jeffery (Samantha) Rees of Big Piney, Wyoming; his brothers, Ron (Kathryn) Rees of Shelley, Idaho, and Chuck (Cathy) Rees of Evanston, Wyoming; his grandchildren, Terrell and Jocelynn Hunter, Rees and Dominic Palo, and Aurora and Aidan Rees; his great-grandson, Amari Hunter; and many nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Merrill and Emma Rees.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Plainview Cemetery in Big Piney, Wyoming. A luncheon will follow at the Sublette County Senior Center in Marbleton, Wyoming.

The family would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported, helped, and cared for Gary throughout his life. Your kindness and friendship meant so much to him and to his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Southwest Sublette County Pioneers Senior Citizen Center in Gary’s memory.