Gary Lawrence Rutherford

Family & friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, December 31st from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at the Lawncrest Chapel & Memorial Park, 1522 East Cypress Ave, Redding, CA. Graveside services will be held on January 2nd at 11:00 AM at the Millville Cemetery in Millville, California. A reception will follow at the Lanzi Ranch 10432 Oak Run Rd.

Gary was born April 17th, 1942 in Redding, California to Harry and Myrtle

(Hufford) Rutherford. Gary lived his entire life in Shasta County. After his birth, the family lived in Bella Vista, where his parents worked as ranch hands. The family later moved to the ranch they bought in Round Mtn. Gary grew up working on his family's ranches with his parents Harry and Myrtle Rutherford.

He attended elementary school at Mineral School in Round Mtn. As a teenager he lived with his Grandmother Mabel on the family ranch in Millville. Gary attended Enterprise High School in Redding and graduated in 1961. While attending high school, he was an active member of the FFA raising cattle and selling his steers at the Shasta District Fair. Gary and his family also joined local Square Dancing Clubs. This is where he met his first wife Marian. Gary and Marian Rollins were married on June 25th, 1962 in Carson City, Nevada. They raised two children, David and Diane. After Gary and Marian divorced, he married Martha Dodd on January 29th, 1989 in Redding. Gary met Martha as they were both members of Eastern Star. Gary and Martha continued to live on the ranch until December 2018 when Gary’s health was declining and they decided to move to Redding.

Gary was an active member of many organizations; Grange, Lions Club, Eastern Star, Amaranth, Masons, Cattlemen’s and the Farm Bureau. When Gary’s children were in elementary school, he served on the school board. He was also beef leader for the local 4-H club. He volunteered at the Shasta District Fair's Junior Livestock Auction with various activities.

Gary is survived by his wife, Martha nee Dodd; his children, David Rutherford and Diane Williams; and his grandchildren, Alesha (Yance) Dowd, Austin Williams (Shannon) Williams, and Allen Williams. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Myrtle Rutheford, Sisters Linda Rutherford and Judy (Rutherford) Walden.