Gary Lee Carter

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gary Lee Carter, cherished friend to horses, hot rods, countless friends and beloved family members, succumbing to Alzheimer’s on January 31st, 2025. Gary was 85 years old.

An emeritus member, and former president of the Cowboy Artists of America (CAA), Gary’s love of Western American lore and history produced a prolific career of oil paintings and sculptures depicting his vision of the American West, often with a wry sense of humor, that spanned a career over 50 years long.

Gary is survived by his wife Marlys, Son Jeff (Lisa), Daughter Suzanne Carter-Horton (Huff), Granddaughters Bronwyn Evans (Alex), Kaitlyn Cluff (Devin), Jillian Carter and Camrynn Carter as well as 8 great grandchildren and Nephews Jack and Mike and their whole Carter Clan. 

Gary was preceded in death by Father Phil, Mother Louise and his Brother Jack who together with Gary created a print company publishing nearly a hundred lithographs of Gary’s Western Art covering subjects ranging from Cowboys and Cavalry to Railroads and Northern Plains Indian life. 

Born in Hutchinson Kansas, March 12th 1939, Gary graduated Palm Springs High School in 1958, trained crews to operate the HAWK missile system in the Army, then graduated Art Center College of Design working as an illustrator in San Diego until Western Art took him first to Tucson then to Montana where his love of the landscapes and the people provided the material for much of his work, including the Montana Centennial commemorative painting. Gary felt so honored being adopted into the Realbird family of the Crow Indian Nation near Hardin in 1991.

A resident of West Yellowstone, Gary loved fly fishing, pack-trips, hot-rodding, helping friends, and all things “Cowboy”. Gary had a generous sense of humor and a kindness for people, finding great joy in helping people, even serving as a Sunday school teacher and later as a Bishop in the LDS church in the late 1990’s.

Gary had many roles, titles and honors throughout his life, but his favorite was “dad” and “grandpa”, the title that those who loved him best called him. Gary’s great gift of seeing the beauty in life and capturing it on canvas is a beautiful legacy passed down to his children, granddaughters, nephews and nieces. His wit, wry smiles, laughter, affectionate nicknames made time spent with this beloved man unforgettable. He will be missed most of all by his dear wife and family. 

Services will be held at the LDS Chapel, 310 Gibbon Ave., West Yellowstone, MT on February 17th at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation. www.alzinfo.org