Gary Camp Bartholomew

Gary Bartholomew was 84 was years old, he was born in Billings, Montana to Dudley and Rose Bartholomew on February 2 1940. 

Gary grew up in Cooke City and later Livingston, Montana where he graduated from Park County High School, shortly after he graduated Gary met and soon married the true love of his life Joenelle Johnson. Gary passed peacefully at Tucson Medical Center on May 23rd 2024.  Gary is survived by his Brother Leslie Bartholomew, his Sister Evelyn Bartholomew, his Sons Blain Price, Dana Price and Bruce Bartholomew. Not forgetting his beloved Dachshunds Dude and Emma. Gary had 7 Grandchildren and 5 great grand children.

 Gary lived in Arizona for over 60 years with the last 31 years in Tucson; he had the opportunity to transfer to Tucson in 1993 with Target as a store manager. He eventually retired from Target in 2003, Gary enjoyed retirement not only in Tucson but also in his hometown of Livingston, Montana. Gary and Joenelle enjoyed the best of both worlds. Between Tucson and Livingston they both enjoyed the well deserved retirement together for many years. Gary cared for Joenelle in the final years of her life. He wouldn’t have changed a thing because he loved her with all his heart. Gary later cared for his younger Sister Gail in Livingston as she battled a long fight with cancer, which finally took her life. Gary contributed to several charities with the main one being The American Cancer Society. 

  Gary enjoyed riding his 4 wheeled off road bikes with friends and family throughout Montana mainly in and around Cooke City where he had many friends. Gary was not one to wait for things to come to him and growing up in Montana made this possible. Given the opportunity to listen to him talk about them was special he had endless stories of his teen life. As a young man, Boy Scouts where he earned the level of Eagle Scout, highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts program. Only 4 percent of scouts have ever earned this rank. But that wasn’t enough he then went on to become an Order of the Arrow another higher membership. His various camping adventures included Glacier Lake and Yellowstone Park only 2 of the many locations he explored. You name it and he probably delved into it and even mastered many of them, if there wasn’t something organized he organized it. Gary was a great mentor and never held back from anything, he would help anyone that needed help no matter how long it took, how far away it was. No or I can’t was not in his vocabulary and was never heard. Shortly after graduating from High School he and Joenelle married and moved to Tucson Joenelle was a widow with 3 young boys all under 4 years old, then after moving to Tucson in 1960 because of Joenelle’s asthma problems they had the 4th son Bruce Bartholomew one can only imagine the task of finding a job, new housing and starting a family of 4 young boys daunting it must have been. What a man Gary was, most of his working life was in retail sales. Gary proved himself managing major retail companies like, Sears, Zaire’s, Target to only mention a few of them, he retired a store Manager of Sears and went on to retire at Target his final employer. Gary had a life of challenges and adventures only a few could embrace and conquer everyone of them. He greeted everyone with a smile or a handshake or both! Gary was a member of the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, in Tucson a member in several Rotary clubs he would donate time in setting up and selling tickets to the Tucson Rodeo for several years. Usually purchasing at least 30 tickets himself to give to friends and family during the rodeo. He continued making friends through the years while raising 4 boys and maintaining high achievements in his retail employments and accomplishing many good things for Arizona at the same time. Gary’s insured that his boys knew the meaning of hard work, accountability and how to succeed in life. Gary raised his family with Dignity, Respect and Pride. He loved Joenelle and his Sons unconditionally. Gary cared about people and in turn they cared about him. Gary was a GREAT individual, a one of a kind Father. He understood what it meant to be a great individual and to treat anyone as if they were, He will be missed by many and there will be a void left by his passing that will take a long time to fill. Gary never forgot to say “Thank You” and “I hope to see you again soon”. Gary/Dad Thank You for all that you have done for myself and the family you supported and to everyone you helped. Love You, Thank You and Hope to see you again soon!

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 19th at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home in Livingston.  Interment to follow at Mt. View Cemetery.  

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