Dates
Gary Carl Granzin “Poppy” passed away at his home on February 11, 2020. Gary was born to A.T. “Slim” and Mary Bess “McGuire” Granzin on April 13, 1948. Gary graduated from Miles High School in 1966. He began his rodeo career riding bulls as a teenager. After high school, Gary went to ASU long enough to rodeo and play spades in the Ram Room. Gary met Dorothy Cmerek and they married April 26th, 1969. He quit riding bulls and began team roping. He team roped for over 35 years. Gary team roped with anyone who asked him to be his partner and he never turned anyone down. As much as he enjoyed roping, he loved visiting with friends for hours during and after the ropings. Most of his lifelong friends came from the team roping family. Following in his parent’s footsteps, Gary and Dorothy opened their own dairy and operated it for numerous years.
With Gary’s love of team roping and since Shelly and Rikki enjoyed it, Gary and Dorothy built a large arena with lights and chutes, return alley and catch pens, all to be used for roping practice and hosting team roping for many ropers from all over Texas. During this time, the ag teacher from Miles ISD, Milburn Wright Jr, approached us about having a rodeo as a fund raiser for the ag department. This was so successful that it turned into an annual event which went on for many years.
After Gary retired from team roping, he began an American Quarter Horse breeding program and took pride in all his work. He loved his cremello stud horse “Chico”. Gary spent his later years ranching, enjoying his grandkids, making his rounds at the Curry Place with his favorite dog “Kooter” and spending time there with family and friends. His grandchildren were the light of his life.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, A.T. “Slim” and Mary Bess Granzin; in-laws, Louis and Lucy Cmerek; brother-in-law, Clarence Kellermeier; and special aunt, Eddye “McGuire” Dreyer Lee.
Gary is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dorothy Granzin; daughter Shelly Granzin; daughter, Rikki Granzin and John Kohutek; grandchildren, Megan, Madie-Claire and Gunner McAda; one brother, Stacy Granzin and wife, Lynn and their children; Kelly Granzin and wife, Kim; Larry Granzin and wife Michele; Heather Granzin; Alison Bryan and husband, Len; brother-in-law Eugene Cmerek and wife Joyce; their children, Vickie and husband Jeff Bailey; Darrell Cmerek and wife Judy; sister-in-law, Marjorie Kellermeier and their children; Sammy Kellermeier and his wife Charlotte; Lonnie Kellermeier and his wife Melissa; and numerous friends and family that are too many to mention, but you all know who you are and how much you meant to Gary.
Honorary pallbearers are Bobby Kasberg, Daryl Weishuhn, Charlie Baca, Steve Beach, Jerry Hudson, Jimmy Bristow, Jimmy Belcher, Bob Herring, Neil Schwartz, Shawn Riddle, Andrew “Jr.” Salling, Wayne Fischer. Dad’s close friends who left our world but with us in spirit; Billy Lee, Clifford Bly, Bob Johnson, David Killingsworth, Bubba Morrow, Buzzy Stensetter, Tom Riddle, and Greg Lange.
A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at 2:00p.m., Saturday, February 15th, 2020 at the Miles Young Farmer’s Building followed by a bbq meal and fellowship throughout the evening. All are welcome. Please bring your favorite story or memory to share with us during the service.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Miles Cemetery Association or to your favorite charity.