Gary I. Cheney was born on July 9, 1943, to Carl and Grace Cheney in Colby, Kansas, at the height of wheat harvest. He grew up on the family farm, the “Old Sears” place, always helping his father and mother with chores (milking cows or tending chickens), watching over his baby brother, C. Duane, or chasing his dog, Beans, up to the neighbors --getting switched by Mom most of the way home. Beans was too fast for her!
He went to school in Rexford and graduated in 1961, with many friends and cousins.
Gary always had a quick, almost shy, smile for everyone and always remembered them, no matter how long since he’d seen them.
In October 1962, he, and a high school friend, enlisted in the Air Force at the recruiting site in Colby, Kansas. He soon found himself on a bus to Kansas City, where he boarded a train for San Antonio, Texas. He and his friend parted company there until the end of his 4-year term and he returned home to the family farm, with a wife and baby girl, Carin.
The three of them rented a little house in Rexford, where he took a job at the local Co-op. Gary wanted to farm, but there weren’t any places at the time, so he applied for a VA benefit under the GI bill and enrolled at the new Colby College in a new program through K-State for Meat Inspecting. He earned an associate’s degree and went to work as a meat inspector for local locker plants and preparing to move to the “Old Woerpel” place north of Rexford. Gary inspected during the day and farmed on the evenings and weekends, where he grew wheat, milo, and feed for his small cow herd. At this time, his wife (a city girl) decided she knew how they could expand the herd and Gary listened to her, laughing at the idea! But when they increased the calf crop by almost double, they worked at it together. By then Gary had a son, Matt, whom his daughter Carin would watch while helping when she could. The years passed quickly and happily until 1981, when his dad, Carl passed away, leaving his mother, Grace alone. Gary was driving a school bus by then, his kids first on and last off, but they didn’t mind because they usually stopped at Grandma’s for a cookie.
Life went by all too fast for Gary and Kay and as always happens when it gets to the end of their lives; illness comes knocking and won’t go away. Gary fought courageously to the end, and we all pray that when God reached out His Hand, Gary took it the way he lived his life…. with every piece of willpower, he could master and said, “I’m ready, take me home”! Gary will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of the home Kay, Carin and spouse Aaron Derbonne of Wright, WY; Matt and spouse Lyn, granddaughters Amanda Kay and his little Sassy Lassie Amie Lynne; brother Duane, spouse Jo; first sister-in-law Marge, nieces Jenny Beemer and Shanna Carl; many cousins and friends.
He was always smiling and will be missed dearly by many!
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