Gary Lee Milliken, age 79, passed away at home on September 13, 2026, in Farmington, New Mexico. Born on December 9, 1946, in Saratoga, Wyoming, to Robert and Gertrude Milliken, Gary grew up playing basketball, football, and track; playing saxophone in high school and college bands, and graduating as Class President from Hanna High School in 1965. He continued his education at Casper College before earning his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Wyoming in 1971. Gary built a dedicated, long-standing career in the oil and gas industry, starting as a roustabout and plant operator in Gillette, Wyoming, before advancing to purchasing and materials management with ARCO Oil & Gas. His career brought him to Farmington as Materials Coordinator for ARCO/Vastar Resources, and he later retired as a contract buyer for BP and NOV.

A lifelong, enthusiastic fan of Wyoming Cowboy athletics, Gary loved traveling across the country with his family to support his team at bowl games, NCAA tournament, and celebrating on the court after Wyoming's 2015 MWC Championship win in Las Vegas. He spent his youth fishing with his grandpa and working college summers for the National Forest Service. He enjoyed playing golf with friends and his son, and mountain biking with family-completing impressive milestones like the Ride the Rockies 410-mile tour, the 114-mile Mickelson Trail, and racing in Farmington's local 30-mile Road Apple Rally. Gary also dedicated his time to coaching youth soccer and basketball, exploring local River Reach trails, and taking lifelong learning classes through San Juan College Encore.

Travelling was a passion for Gary. Taking nephews and niece to Disneyland was just the starting point. After moving to New Mexico, frequent trips to Wyoming and South Dakota to see family were common. Family vacations to Disneyland, Disneyworld, UW football and basketball games, and sightseeing trips followed. Destination cruises to Panama, Aruba, Costa Rica; Rhine River tour from Amsterdam to Switzerland; train tour of Switzerland; church pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey; a very memorable trip to Finland to see distant relatives with stops in Iceland and Norway; and most recently a 5375.8-mile journey to visit relatives and attend a Buffalo Bills game in New York.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Gertrude Milliken; his brother, Terry Milliken; and his grandparents, William and Rachel Milliken, and Emil and Fannie Salo.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth Milliken; his son, Mark Milliken; and a large circle of extended family, including his nieces and nephews: Tammy (Troy) Mortenson, Tad (BobbieJo) Milliken, Kenneth Dale (Susie) McCartney, Austin Lammers, Devin (Laura) Lammers, Alex (Melissa) Lammers, Nick (Aaryn) Schaub, Alicia (Mike) Weister, Michael (Liz) Schaub, and Alexis (Jeremy) Brower.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Sacred Heart Church Columbarium, officiated by Father Timothy Farrell. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the River Reach Foundation, the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter, or the Cowboy Joe Club.