Gary Warren Swope was born June 18, 1941, to Walter and Wilma at Fort Warren just outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming. His childhood in Gooding, Idaho was one of adventure, mischief and close friendship with his cousin and confidant Johnny Laughlin, often accompanied by Johnny's older brother, Mickey. They loved to taunt the bulls at the stockyard and see who could stay in the pen the longest with the charging bull. The train that rolled through Gooding slowed down just enough entering for the boys to hitch a ride and then jump off as it picked up speed exiting town. The boys at about twelve years old rode their bicycles to Hagerman (twenty miles each way), passing cars on the downhill grade and swimming in the Snake River. Gary always loved animals and had one dog or another throughout his life. In high school he also had a parakeet and two ducks, Pickalay and Quackalay. His younger sister Patty said Gary was one of the coolest, most handsome boys in school and her friends congregated at the house to be near him and the other boys. He loved to play the trumpet. His junior year the family moved to Mtn. Home, Gary tried wrestling and placed second in state. The next year they moved to Weiser.

After graduation the family moved to Yokohama, Japan. Gary rode the bullet train into Tokyo to attend Sophia University. Academic life didn't suit Gary, so he pursued adventure in the United States Air Force. There he met buddies for life Charlie Ferris and Leon Marshall.

His Aunt Myrtle asked the young schoolteacher she worked with in Gooding who was on her way to teach in Alaska, to look up her nephew, Gary. Lois Ruby settled into her Fairbanks teaching position and contacted Gary. After the second date he knew she was the one, the love of his life.

They married six months later and ventured forth into the Alaska of the 1960's, hunting moose, caribou, fishing for trout, grayling, and salmon. On one trip a black bear made the poor decision to enter their campsite, Gary and his rifle transformed him into a nice rug enjoyed by the family over the years.

Gary planned to make a career of the Air Force. Stationed at Finley AFB in North Dakota, their son, Earle only months old, the Air Force decided to send Gary on an unaccompanied tour to Pakistan. Gary told them anywhere with his family for any length of time. The Air Force did not relent and were no match for Gary's love and loyalty to family and combined stubbornness. His enlistment ended several months later, and Gary returned to Alaska as a civilian.

His daughter Belinda was born in Anchorage where he worked various jobs in sales and as a realtor. Gary never met a stranger and within minutes they often became friends. He eventually landed a job at Dewey's Marina that fit him to a 'T', selling and repairing boats and boat motors. He took his family on numerous adventures in four wheel drives and boats throughout the interior, the Kenai Peninsula, and Prince William Sound. He was an avid outdoorsman and the first to help a stranger. Many outings were altered stopping to aid someone in need. Sometimes it was just an hour pulling a rig out of the mud, or a boat pushed off a shoal. Other times it was driving a hundred miles to get parts for a necessary repair. Whatever it was, Gary didn't stop helping until the problem was solved and the people were on their way.

Holidays and birthdays were spent with his in-laws, the Ruby's. More reserved than Gary, they fell in love with his teasing, orneriness and merriness at family gatherings. His wife Lois commented, "If we were ever to divorce, I think Mother would take you over me." And her mother, Pearl, dearly loved by Gary.

After meals where Gary out ate more than men twice his size he would digest horizontally on a couch or recliner, snoring away in the midst of the chatter and game play

The Marina sold and Gary couldn't land a job in the bleak 80's Anchorage job market. He and Lois returned to Idaho where he worked as a resort manager, in heli-logging, and various sales jobs for a decade. Then he found his calling in used car sales. He didn't sell the new or high end used cars. He worked on the Pot-Lot and like he did with everything he embraced it and owned it. He became King of the Pot-Lot; the decrepit, broken, bottom of the barrel trade-ins. Never one to take himself too seriously (unless it really mattered) he told customers the truth. The cars were beaten up, worn out, crappy, castoffs, but they were cheap! Customers loved his honesty, and many returned to purchase car after crappy car from him. He told them he'd never BS them which led to his sales often exceeding the 'suits' in new cars. He made salesman of the year and one year salesman of the month for seven of those months one crappy, pot-lot car at a time. And that's no BS!

During that time Gary and Lois opened their hearts and home to Jovita and welcomed her into the family, giving Belinda the sister she always wanted.

His outdoors adventures continued in RV's and captaining his cabin cruiser, Loinda, throughout the San Juan's often with granddaughters Tiffany and Tanisha aboard. In retirement the trips increased in duration, snow birding in Yuma and supporting Lois selling used books. Gary became an authority on western paperbacks. The trips were curtailed in 2017 when Pearl moved in with them. He was losing travel time in his golden years but not a peep or complaint came from his lips. He was happy to help.

Gary exploded into rooms and brought joy with him in abundance, then he napped. He always helped, as a scout leader, at church as an usher or board member. He was extremely proud of his grandkids appointed title of, Goofpa.

The last several years and especially his last months were difficult watching an incredibly independent man lose his independence. But he never lost his love for family, sense of humor, or stubbornness. As he transitioned through hospice care, a hospital bed was delivered to his living room. The nurses worked at convincing him it was best for him. He said he was sleeping in his own bed. A different nurse on a different day would alert the family that they had finally convinced Gary to move into the hospital bed. Then Gary would say, "Nope." He quietly passed away in his own bed early in the morning hours of July 5, 2025.

Gary loved tremendously and was tremendously loved in return. May we all be so fortunate!

Gary was devoted to family and is survived by his wife, of 61 years, Lois; children, Earle (Beth), Belinda (Robert), and Jovita (Jesse); grandchildren, Tiffany, Tanisha, Jacqueline, Jonathan, Vanisha, Rene, Isabella (Oli), Powell, and Gabriel; and great grandkids, Dante, Jolene, and Granger; and his kid sister Patty. A celebration of his wonderful life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Bethel Nazarene Church in Nampa, Idaho with Military Honors by Mountain Home Air Force Base Honor Guard.

The Family suggests that memorial contributions be made to either The Boise Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 1494, Boise, ID 83701 (https://boiserm.org/donate) or MAF, P.O. Box 47, Nampa, ID 83653