Gary Michael Ritchey passed away Monday, June 29, 2020, in Durango Colorado. He was 70 years old.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 10, 2020 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel in Laurel, Mississippi. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel and the Burial will follow in Boyles Chapel Cemetery. Bro. Leon Carmichael will officiate. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel is in charge of arrangements. (601) 649-3342

A Celebration of Life was held July 4, 2020 for his closest friends at Jason and Heidi Bleimeyers cabin in the mountains.

Gary was born May 30, 1950, to Lewis O. Ritchey and Jessie Faye Rainer in Laurel, Mississippi. He grew up in Laurel and attended West Jones High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army - 82nd Airborne during the Vietnam War and was Honorably discharged. While in the Army, he met and married Tommie Carolyn Sumrall. The young couple was stationed at Fort Bragg and worked at Fort Pope as a parachute rigger and test jumper. They returned to Laurel and began working in the oil field services. He retired as an oil field consultant in 2016. Tommie and Gary purchased their second home in Dolores in 2009 and loved spending their time in their Colorado mountain home.

He loved elk hunting and came to Colorado every year to hunt for over 25 years.

He is survived by his wife, Tommie; two sons: Michael Thomas (Misti) and Brian Morgan (Jatem); grandson: Owen Michael; Morgan Lea Davis , a very special niece , that he loved like a daughter, his beloved Yorkie, Rocky and Tommie's Yorkie, Harley; and numerous close friends in West Fork (Near Dolores), Colorado

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother: Samuel Lewis Ritchey.