Gary C. Williams

November 6, 1954 ~ September 4, 2011
 
Gary C. Williams, 56, went home to be with Jesus, on Sunday, September 4, 2011, in Sandpoint, Idaho. Funeral services were held September 8 at the First Christian Church in Sandpoint with Pastor Tony Nelson officiating.

Gary was born on November 6, 1954 in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Donald and Thelma Williams. He grew up and attended schools in San Diego, California, graduating from Crawford High School in 1973. Gary then signed with the Kansas City Royals baseball organization, and his first minor league assignment took him to Billings, Montana, to pitch for the Mustangs.

Gary received his bachelor degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego. He began a career in real estate development where he worked for Garrett Development in Del Mar, California.

Gary married his wife Karen Rusch in 1989 in Napa, California. They recently celebrated 22 years of marriage and have one daughter, Brooke.

Gary was a visionary entrepreneur who started several businesses. The family moved to Sandpoint in 2004 from Ramona, California. Here he achieved his dream of living in a beautiful mountain community on a lake. Gary enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He loved the outdoors, including hunting, fishing, hiking and skiing.

He developed The Meadows at Fall Creek in Naples. As part of his community spirit, Gary donated the land for the Fall Creek Fire Station.

He is a member of the First Christian Church. In 2010, Gary and his daughter Brooke took a life changing mission trip to Nicaragua with Forward Edge. Gary enjoyed playing baseball with the children from the orphanage. Teams cannot compete unless they are in uniforms, so when Gary returned home he was committed to providing them. If you would like to donate towards team uniforms in memory of Gary, gifts can be made to First Christian/ VERBO Church.

Gary is survived by his wife Karen and daughter Brooke in Sandpoint; father Donald (Elizabeth) Williams of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; two brothers Ron (Sheila) Williams of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Dan (Debbie) Williams of Ramona, California; and one sister Judy (Gordon) Schmid of Prescott Valley, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his mother Thelma and one infant daughter.