Gregory "Greg" Gardner

Greg Gardner - A Cowboy's Life

Gregory "Greg" Gardner, 69, of Lysite, Wyoming passed away Sunday, March 1, 2026 at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Missouri Valley Fire Hall. 384 Missouri Valley Road, Riverton, Wyoming. Food will be provided.

Greg Gardner was born October 14, 1956, in Riverton, Wyoming-a place that suited him well, because from the very beginning he was built for the life of a Wyoming rancher.

He attended school in Morton and Riverton before graduating from Shoshoni High School. But the classroom was never really where Greg belonged. The ranch was. The horses, the cattle, and the open country-that was where he felt most at home.

On July 25, 1976, he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Ramage. Together they built a life centered around hard work, family, and the land they loved. In 1980, Greg and Barb moved to Lysite, where they started their own livestock operation and raised their three children.

Greg was a rancher through and through. Being a cowboy wasn't something he tried to be; it was simply who he was. He believed in getting up early, working hard, and doing the job that needed to be done without complaint. He understood horses and cattle in the quiet way lifelong ranchers do. The ranch wasn't just where he worked; it was where he understood the world best.

And that never changed. In the days leading up to his hospitalization, Greg was still doing what he had done his entire life: feeding the cattle and horses on the ranch. No matter what, he pushed forward. Cowboy tough. That's the only way he knew how to live.

Greg lived by a simple code. One that reflected the kind of man he was. One of the sayings he appreciated most came from John Wayne:

"I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."

Those who knew Greg would say he lived by that kind of straightforward honesty his entire life.

Greg was a private man. Those who knew him understood that well. He wasn't one for attention or long speeches, but the people close to him knew the depth of his loyalty, his quiet humor, and his unwavering sense of responsibility to his family. Greg could have a quick temper and wasn't shy about letting a few choice words fly when something needed saying, but he never held onto it long. By the next chore or the next sunrise, it was usually behind him.

He was also known to guard a few prized possessions-especially his Garcia and other silver bits, his spurs, and his saddle. Those who knew Greg understood those items were strictly hands-off.

He had an old soul. Many of his closest friendships were with older generations because he loved hearing stories about the past. History fascinated him, and he had a memory like few others. He could recall names, events, and details from decades ago as if they had happened yesterday.

Later in life, Greg developed a love for travel and adventure. Hunting trips took him to places he never expected to see. Trips to Africa, New Zealand, and Alaska became some of the most memorable experiences of his life, and he spoke of them often. He also enjoyed taking solo road trips, driving long stretches of highway just to take in the scenery and the places along the way. Some of those trips took him to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to watch his favorite football team play.

In 2017, Greg was given a second chance at life through a heart transplant. True to his nature, he faced the challenge head-on and came back stronger than anyone expected. Resilience was simply part of who he was. Over the years he survived more horse wrecks, cattle accidents, tractor rollovers, and patched-up body parts than the family could count, yet he always got back up and kept going. Because of that, when his final hospitalization came, the family simply assumed he would bounce back once again.

Of all the things Greg loved, nothing meant more to him than his grandchildren. They were his greatest joy.

As a boy, Greg's Grandpa Stoll gave him the nickname "Timberline," because he was tall and skinny. The name stuck, and so did the bond between the two of them.

Greg was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Jim Stoll and Earl Gardner; his grandmothers, Margaret McFarland Stoll and Stella Kelly Gardner; and his father, Dave Gardner.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Barbara Gardner; his three children, Heidi Grace (Anthony) and their son Niall; Jason Gardner (Bridget) and their children Lainee and Landon; and James Gardner (Jennifer) and their children Megan, Mac, and Madison; his mother, Claudine Gardner; his brothers, Bret Gardner and Kelly Gardner (Kim); and numerous nieces and nephews.

Greg Gardner lived the kind of life that doesn't need embellishment-a life built on hard work, family, honesty, and the land. The ranch was his home. The cowboy life was his calling. And somewhere now, we imagine Greg riding again in the mountains-tall in the saddle, high-spirited, and free.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shoshoni FFA, Missouri Valley Fire Department, or Lysite Fire Department. Checks should be made payable to the organization and may be sent in care of Davis Funeral Home, 2203 West Main Street, Riverton, WY 82501.

On-line condolences for the family may be made at www.TheDAvisFuneralHome.com

Services under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments of Riverton, Wyoming.