Gary M. Peek Sr. Obituary (2025)

Gary Milburn Peek was born to Milburn E. Bowlin and Yeeta Mae Baxter on October 3, 1935, in Lansing, Michigan. He joined his sister, Mona Dean. When Gary was very young, his parents divorced. Yeeta later married Floyd Archer Peek; he was the only father that Gary remembered. In September of 1985, Gary had his surname legally changed to Peek. Gary had many fond childhood memories while living in Michigan. His grandma and grandpa Young and grandma and grandpa Baxter lived close to them, and they had lots of family time together. He was always an adventurous and daring child. During his early years, someone told him if he put his tongue on the frozen swing pole, his tongue would stick to it; sure enough, he did and really hurt before he could get his tongue loose. Gary and Mona Dean loved to ice skate in the winter months. The city would flood an area in the park to make a pond of water. When it froze over, the kids would have a place to ice skate. Four more siblings soon joined the family: Floyd Diann, Alsada, Royce, and Dennis. One of his scary memories was the start of World War 2. The family got together around his grandpa Baxter's radio and listened to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to the country about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The kids were not allowed to talk during this time, and if they did, they would get a swat on the mouth. His grandpa Young and Dad use to make homemade toys for the kids. Sometime during World War 2, they made Gary a landing barge and tank. Gary remembered receiving these toys all his life. In 1945, the family moved to the San Antonio, Texas, area. During his teen years, he did odd jobs to make money. One of which was picking up hay bales for a penny a bale. He did this so he could buy a pair of cowboy boots. Gary's parents attended Saturday night dances on a regular basis and would often take the kids with them. He would dance with his sisters until he got older. He was always a good dancer. He joined the Marine Corps when he was 17 years old. He went to San Diego, California, for boot camp was there for 3 months. His thoughts the first day were, "They are going to kill me." His second day thoughts were, "They are going to kill me and then eat me." On the third day, as he was lying on his bunk, a thought came to him: "Thousands of men have made it before me, and if they can make it, so can I." He then was sent to Camp Pendleton, at Ocean Side, California; from here he was sent to China Lake, Naval Weapon Center, in Ridgecrest, California, for guard duty rather than being sent to Korea at this time. It was here he met Norma Jewel Dean. They were married on October 22, 1954. Soon after, he was sent to Japan and later Korea. After his discharge in 1956, he returned to Indian Wells Valley. He still had four more years to serve, so he was on standby in the reserves, at China Lake, and worked as a fireman. From this union came six children: Gary M. Peek Jr., Floyd A. Peek, LaJuana Peek, Elaine Peek, Yeeta Peek, and Calvin Peek. In March 1957, he went to work for the Fire Division as a fire trainee. Became a firefighter a year later, and then was made a driver operator of fire trucks in 1962. In 1965, he became a crew chief, later with a promotion to captain in November 1972. Gary was a unit leader for the Inyokern 4-H Club horse unit, which marched in parades, and horse shows. However, his most energetic contribution to the community was in his participation as a member of the Indian Wells Valley Search and Rescue Team. He and Dr. Carl Austin journeyed around the valley lecturing on desert survival and first aid. This includes visits to schools and other groups, including the enlisted men and officers of the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron, Five. Gary and Norma moved their family to Boise, Idaho, in 1976. After moving to Boise, he worked at the Idaho State Prison for a time before getting his job at the Ada County courthouse as Chief of Security. He worked here until his retirement in 1997. Gary and Norma divorced. On August 2, 1985, he married LaRee John Peterson. They lived in Middleton, ID, for the next eight years before they divorced. After twenty years, they crossed paths again and remarried on August 2, 2014. They then lived in Nampa, ID. LaRee became a caregiver for Gary until he had to move to the Idaho Veterans Home in July 2022. Gary often expressed thanks to LaRee for her care. He also expressed his thanks to the staff members at the Veterans Home and showed gratitude for their help. While living in Middleton, he served as a Boy Scout Master. Several of the boys earned their Eagle Scout award during this time. Gary had a great love for his country. He loved to hunt, fish, camp, and take day trips to the mountains. One of his favorite places to go was Lucky Peak. He had a great love for animals, especially the dogs he had over his lifetime. Gary had many talents, one of which was his wood carving and painting crafts. He won several blue and red ribbons at the Canyon County fair and the Idaho state fair. After his retirement, he became a Ham Radio operator. That is where he met his dear friends, Madge and Doug Rich. He enjoyed this hobby and had many ham/radio friends. One of his favorite things to do was at Christmas time when he and others would take their ham radios to the hospital. They would call the children who were patients as if they were getting a call from Santa. Gary is survived by LaRee; five of his six children: Gary M. Jr., Floyd A. Lajuana, Elaine, and Calvin; six stepchildren: Gene, Kay, Anita, Lori, Jared, and Aaron; 36 grandchildren and countless great and great grandchildren; sisters, Mona-Dean and Alsada, from San Antonio, TX. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Norma; daughter Yeeta and her husband, Kirk Heavener; two grandchildren; one sister, Floyd Diana; and two brothers, Royce and Dennis; his parents and grandparents. Funeral services will be Friday, March 21, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1500 Smith Ave. Nampa, ID, with viewing at 10:00 a.m. and funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise, Idaho, March 24, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. This will be a short 20-minute service.