Gary Melvin Puckett

Gary Melvin Puckett
March 21, 1951 - February 15, 2023
Gary passed away peacefully at home in Santa Rosa, CA after a long hard-fought illness. He was 71 years old.
Gary was born in Santa Rosa, CA to Howard and Arline Puckett. He graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1969 and attended University Nevada Reno graduating with a BA in Education in 1975. In between attending UNR, he spent three years as a printer in the US Army, stationed in Heidelberg, Germany.
Gary had a passion for golf and travel and that led him to becoming a superintendent of golf courses and eventually general manager of golf courses in Germany, Florida, Alabama and California.
In 1985, Gary married his wife of 37 years, Vickie (Hergert) in San Antonio, Texas and they had a daughter, Stefanie.
Gary had a chance to move with his family back to Germany to run the Heidelberg Golf Club, staying for 12 years.
After returning to California in 2005, Gary worked for Cypress Lakes Golf Course at Travis Air Force Base until he was diagnosed with Leukemia. He retired and spent the last years of his life courageously struggling with health issues but always stayed positive through difficult times. Gary loved life, his family, his friends and his dog, Bodie.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Arline and Howard Puckett and his brother, Dayle Puckett.
He is survived by his wife, Vickie; daughter, Stefanie; son, Zach; sister-in-law, Jacqueline Russell; brothers-in-law, Eddie (Gayle) and Mark Hergert and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
His memorial service will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 2:00pm at the Veterans Lawn in Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Ave. Santa Rosa, CA.