Gary Douglas Sweeney

Gary Douglas Sweeney

September 18, 1939 - November 1, 2024

Gary Douglas Sweeney, 85, passed peacefully in the morning on November 1, 2024. Born in Seattle on September 18, 1939, Gary was the second son of Robert and Gloria Sweeney. He was close with his older brother Bob and would fondly recall how much he looked up to him. During his childhood, they moved to California but returned to Washington before he began high school.

Gary graduated from Lincoln High School in Seattle, class of 1957. He started working at Carnation Milk Company during high school and worked his way up from a loader to production manager.  In 1977, Gary moved to Skagit Valley and purchased Dairy Valley Milk Company.

Being a father was one of Gary’s greatest joys in life, proudly raising his three sons, Randy, Brian, and Steven. A lifelong sports fan, he embraced his son’s involvement in sports with enthusiasm, coaching many of his son’s teams. He had a passion for coaching youth football and working with kids on the field. Notably, he coached the Wedgewood “Weggies” where he made friends for life with his coaches, players, and their families. Gary was also the head coach for the the adult football team, the Skagit Valley Raiders for several seasons.

In 1977, Gary bought a home at Skagit Golf & Country Club and promptly joined the membership, becoming a very big part of his social circle. He always loved golf and it connected him to his many friends and family, enriching his relationships and providing an outlet for his social and competitive nature.

During the 1980’s, he opened Daniel’s Restaurant in Burlington, a social hub known for live music, lots of dancing, and good food. Gary loved music and was particularly fond of George Jones. He was quick to make friends and had a generous, giving heart.

Gary met Laurie McNett at Skagit G&CC and they started dating in 1990, marrying on October 6, 1998. They would spend over 34 years together playing countless rounds of golf, traveling, and sharing lots of laughs. Gary loved taking care of Laurie and was always doing whatever it took behind the scenes to make things run smoothly.

Through his many years of involvement with the dairy industry, he became well-known as the Ice Cream Man. His love for sharing ice cream with all was a source of great joy for him.

Being a grandpa was something Gary embraced with enthusiasm. He loved spending time with his grandkids, spoiling them with gifts, and sneaking ice cream before dinner. Grandpa Gary was always at games and dance recitals, running grandkids around, and loved taking them for a spin in the golf cart.

Those lucky enough to know Gary knew how big his heart was. He was always willing to lend a hand and loved sharing gifts and treats with those around him. Gary’s sense of humor was a source of frequent smiles and chuckles, with his sarcastic and frank jokes, he kept those around him on their toes. His life was lived with joy, laughter, and a larger-than-life energy that made him fun to be around. He will be greatly missed but as his all-time favorite George Jones once wrote, “All good things must come to an end.”

Gary is survived by his beloved wife, Laurie McNett, half-sister Linda Borland, sister in law Sue Sweeney, sons Randy (Merilee) Sweeney, Brian (Rose) Sweeney, Steven (Shari) Sweeney, step-sons Jason (Sara) Welty, Craig (Kamriell) Welty, grandchildren: Kalen Welty, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Welty, Lila Welty, Jack Welty, many nieces and nephews, close family members Kerry McNett and Gary Baxter, many extended relatives, and the B&R family.

He is preceded in death by his father Robert (Shio) Sweeney, mother Gloria (Doug) Bennett,  and brothers Bob Sweeney and Terry Sweeney.

A celebration of life service will be held at Skagit Golf & Country Club on November 22nd at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the SG&CC Junior Golf Scholarship, or a charity of your choice.