Gary LeRay Belk, age 70, of Berthoud, Colorado died unexpectedly at his home on Friday, June 29, 2012. Gary was born in Davenport, Iowa to Benjamin and Claudine Belk on December 16, 1941. He had many great stories of his childhood in Iowa working at his parent’s lake and on the farms around town. He married his wife of 46 years, Phyllis, and moved to Aspen Colorado in 1968. He and Phyllis purchased the King Ranch on the Frying Pan River in Basalt, running it first as a guest ranch and then as rentals. They had two wonderful children, Kerry and Clay.

Gary worked for the Aspen Skiing Company for many years working in many different roles. He then began building houses full time as a General Contractor where his ideas, creativity and problem solving skills were fully utilized in the creation of numerous beautiful homes.

Gary and Phyllis moved to Berthoud in 2005 to be closer to their grandkids and daughter’s family. Gary took great pride in his grandkids and taught them so many things, he loved to tease them and expose them to things their parents wouldn’t have. “You did what!” —was a common question after a day spent with their PaPa.

Gary is survived by his wife, Phyllis, daughter Kerry and her husband Matt Nieberger, and grandkids Max (14), Maya (13), Maggie (11) and Mason (9), his sisters Sharon Doran of Nederland and Cindy Dolan of Missouri and their families. He joins his son Clay in heaven where I’m sure they are fishing again. He will be missed beyond measure.

A memorial mass will be held at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Longmont Colorado on Thursday July 5 at 1:00 p.m. Condolences may be left for the family at www.kibbeyfishburn.com.