Gary Peterson

The family of Gary Peterson will celebrate his life of 67 years at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers, followed by a reception. He passed on Saturday, January 15, 2022. We invite you to view the live-streamed service on this page, sign his virtual guestbook, and download his memorial keepsake folder to your device for printing. We also ask you to consider viewing his Life Tribute, a video of photographs set to his favorite music.

The family is composing his Life Story…On October 25, 1954, Gary was born to Verlin and Jean Peterson in Chanute, Kansas. Gary graduated high school from Parsons, Kansas in 1972. He continued his education at Kansas State University, earning a bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1976. He then moved on to pursue his graduate degrees from Oklahoma State University, earning his Masters's in 1978, and ultimately his Ph.D. in 1982.

After leaving Oklahoma State University, he took his one and only job and would meet his future wife at Texas Agrilife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock, Texas. He married Kim Caldwell on August 12, 1983, in Plainview, Texas. Gary and Kim were blessed with two daughters, Jennifer in 1986 and Courtney in 1990. They continued to be blessed with two grandchildren, Charlotte in 2015, and Michael in 2019. Gary very much enjoyed his status as a retired Pappy to his grandchildren and was an avid golfer. He loved his Kansas State Wildcats and his longtime church home, Westminster Presbyterian, where he served as an elder.

Gary worked tirelessly in his career and traveled extensively throughout the world on behalf of INTSORMIL, including many trips to South Africa, West Africa, Australia, China, Latin America, and Puerto Rico just to name a few. He has been a member of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society since 1979, a member of the American Society of Agronomy for 45 years, and a member of the Crop Science Society of America for 45 years. In 2009, he received the Vice Chancellor's Award in Excellence from Texas A&M University for his distinguished service. He retired in August 2018 after 36 years of dedication to his mission of improving sorghum crop quality in the developing world.

Survivors include his wife, Kim Peterson; their children, Jennifer and her husband Paul Crosthwait, Courtney Peterson; grandchildren, Charlotte Crosthwait and Michael Crosthwait; siblings, Mark and his wife Leslie Peterson, Kent and his wife Cindy Peterson; Mary and her husband Glen Wilson; as well as many nieces and nephews, to whom he was known lovingly as Uncle Doc.

He was preceded in death by his father, Verlin Peterson, and his mother, Jean Peterson.

Memorials
The family of Gary Peterson has designated Westminster Presbyterian Church for memorial contributions donated in his memory.