Obituary of Garry Lee Hamby

GARRY LEE HAMBY MARCH 11, 1947 - MAY 18, 2012 Garry Lee Hamby, 65, died unexpectedly on Friday, May 18, 2012. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana; moved to San Jose, California in 1953 and to Soquel in 1959 where he attended Capitola Junior High, Soquel High class of '65, and Cabrillo College. Garry and his twin brother, Barry, enlisted in the US Navy Reserve on their 16th birthday. Upon graduation Garry reported for active duty and served two years as a navigator on the USS Washtenaw County in the waters around Southeast Asia at the height of the Viet Nam War. Returning home Garry married, started his family and they moved to Denver, Colorado where he managed a horse ranch for the Shriners', Palomino Mounted Patrol. From there they moved to Longmont, Colorado where Garry, Barry and friend, Tim started BG&T Painting. A painting contractor for over 43 years, Garry was a master painter! He had a tireless work ethic and took incredible pride in the quality of every job he did. Moving back home, to the place he loved, Soquel, Capitola and the ocean, Garry was a local fixture, hanging out with his West Wind Surf Club buddies on the jetty and fishing off the Capitola Wharf. In addition to his love of the ocean, Garry loved the Soquel countryside and took many trail rides on Cody, his horse of 40 years! In recent years he enjoyed camping at New Brighton Beach. He also looked forward to their out of town shopping trips for glass for Cathie's shop, Hammond's Glass. Garry was a horseshoe pitcher! What started as a family tradition became a life long passion. He was well known in the local horseshoe pitching community, especially for his beautiful one and one-quarter horseshoe turn. Most of all Garry loved family. He was the life of the party, taking pictures, pitching horseshoes or saddling up Cody to give all the kids horseback rides. Garry had a special way of touching the lives of those who knew him. Friends were always considered family in Garry's eyes. He will live on in our hearts as a loving son, brother, father, uncle, husband, grandfather, and friend. Garry was preceded in death by his twin brother, Barry Hamby and father, Ike Hamby. He is survived by his wife, Cathie Cowart Hamby, mother, Jean Hamby, sons, Joshua Bo (Kacy), Buck, and Sam Hamby, stepchildren, Sheri Charboneau, Julie and Evan Kenville, Caryn Allen (Rick), sister, Laura Hamby, brother Scott Hamby (Lynette), brother in law, Ken Cowart (Danielle Uharriet), grand-children, Tabitha, Zoe, Phoebe, Ella Bleu, Koby, Christopher, Cameron, and Carter. A celebration of Garry's life will be held at 2:00 P.M, Sunday, May 27, at the Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Drive, Soquel, CA. A reception will be held in the church hall following the service. A "paddle out" will be hosted by the West Wind Surf Club on Friday, June 8 at 10 a.m. off the Capitola Wharf. Memorial donations may be made in Garry's name to West Wind Cabrillo College Scholarship Fund or your favorite charity.