Beloved husband and father Rodney Ray Gary, 60, of Nixa, Missouri, passed away April 15, 2025, on a beach in Aruba. He always said the beach is where he belonged, and God apparently agreed.
His wife of 21 years, Kristy (Polete), was right by his side. Their journey of love and adventure began when Kristy was hunting for a new car. They wed on August 22, 2003, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and enjoyed years together in Wichita and Nixa. They saw the West Coast from Seattle, Washington, to Carpenteria, California, while on travel assignments. Rodney loved road trips, seeing different parts of the country, and visiting family along the way.
He is survived by his children: son Carter of Nixa; daughters Randi (Spencer) Van Eck of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Ricki (Manuel) Gary of Lincoln, Nebraska; and son William Hamilton of Urbana, Missouri. He is also survived by his son-in-law Troy Van Eck, who graciously gave Rodney his final road trip home.
Rodney was born October 1,1964, to Robert and Wanda (Tyner) Gary in Wichita. He graduated in 1983 from Shenandoah High School in Iowa. Two years later, he married his high school girlfriend Rhonda Smith. They had two children: Randi and Ricki.
Rodney was a jack of all trades. He ran a diner, worked in factories and customer service, dealt blackjack, sold cars and remodeled homes. If it needed to be fixed, Rodney would figure it out, and his son Carter is just like him. Rodney had the opportunity to work for Henkels and McCoy, helping to restore power to the Island of Kauai, after Hurricane Iniki hit the Hawaiian island in 1992. He spent six months there. While repairing and installing windows with Boyd Aluminum in Springfield, Missouri, he traveled from coast-to-coast. He met his friend and co-worker Brian Freeman, and they traveled from Bedford, New Hampshire, to Oakland, California. Oh the stories filled with laughter, they could tell about their shenanigans. One lesson learned was NOT to visit Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. They may or may not have had a run in with border agents there.
Rodney’s love of fishing began at a young age and continued into adulthood with his brothers-in-law Ron Smith and Kevin Rivers. Kevin and his wife, Denise, helped Rodney’s many attempts to hook a trophy striped bass. He so badly wanted to beat out Kristy’s record fish — a 28-pounder hooked on Beaver Lake in Arkansas — during their honeymoon. He never reached that goal but always had fun trying and sharing stories of his attempts. The secret is they actually caught the honker of a fish together, holding the fishing pole as one; just as they tackled all of life’s challenges.
When the fish weren’t biting, Rodney could also turn to his passion for hunting. He once traveled to Wyoming to go elk hunting with his cousin Jack Gray. They quickly learned you shouldn’t go hunting on a mountainside in a truck following a heavy rain. They barely made it off that mountain.
Rodney loved horse racing and bet on the Kentucky Derby every year. If he could drive to bet on a horse race or dog race, he would, and he knew the ins and outs of playing Keno and the four-spot bets. His love and zest for life came through in everything he did. Even in the darkest of times, he radiated positivity, and it was contagious. He once entered pre-op for brain surgery with a smile on his face. Even pastors could learn a thing or two about his resilient faith.
Rodney’s love for his family ran deep and never wavered. He became his best self when his grandchildren were born and was affectionately known as Papa Gary. He is survived by his cherished grandchildren: Faith Van Eck, Adriana Van Eck, Noah Medley, Isaac Medley, Elijah Medley, and Amelia Hernandez.
Rodney was preceded in death by his parents Robert Gary and Wanda Reese, grandparents, aunts and uncles as well as fathers-in-law Ronald Smith and Jack Polete and nephew Michael Senseman.
In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he is survived by sisters Kelly (Paul) Dickson of Lakewood, Colorado, and Robin (Chuck) Senseman of Albuquerque, New Mexico; brother Mitch Gary of Lincoln, Nebraska; bonus sister Hollie (Tommy) BeMiller of Lancaster, California; bonus brother Troy (Teri) Keeley of Tehachapi, California; stepmother Cathy (Terry) Gary Kuhl of Yuma, Arizona; mother of his beautiful daughters Rhonda (Smith) Stangl of Lincoln, Nebraska; in-laws Kay and Dean Rivers of Harlan County, Nebraska; mother-in-law Maxine Polete of Nixa, Missouri, and sisters-in-law Kim Polete of Nixa, Missouri, and Jackie Polete of Houston, Texas. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews, Katie, John, Kaymarie, Caden, Chloe, Baylee, and Preslee, cousins and friends.
Despite his health struggles, Rodney never let it get him down and made friends with a host of medical staff who helped care for him over the years.
Per his wishes, he was cremated in Aruba.
A celebration of life will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2025, at the Waverly Community Foundation Social Hall at Jaycee Park, 11120 N 141st St. Waverly, Nebraska 68462. Following the celebration, his family invites you for some Keno fun at Trackside Bar, 13901 Guildford St. #H, Waverly, Nebraska 68462.
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