LUBBOCK, Texas - Gary Joe Benton, 66, was born April 13, 1939, to Ray and Alma Benton in Newton.
He graduated from Liberal High School in 1957. He then attended Wichita State University.
He worked in the home improvement business in Lubbock, Texas, for several years before starting his own business, Exterior Designers. He continued to work in the home improvement industry until shortly before his death. He pursued a lifelong dream to become a race horse owner in 1976. In the early 1980s he owned more than 35 race horses. In 1980, his horse Native Gambler won the All American Derby in Ruidoso, N.M., and that year was the first year the winner's pot exceeded $1,000,000 for the derby. He continued in the race business for many more years as an owner and consultant.
Survivors include his mother; one son, Steve Benton, Houston; four daughters, Dana Parker and husband, Randall, Longview, Texas, Kathy Caldwell and husband, Danny, Austin, Texas, Melissa Craig and husband Mark, Tulsa, Okla., and Jacqueline Pickard and husband, Rick, Lampasas, Texas; five grandchildren; one brother, Mike Benton, Lubbock; and his longtime friend, Judy Self.
He was preceded in death by his father; one grandson, Bryan Swift; and one brother, Richard.
He graduated from Liberal High School in 1957. He then attended Wichita State University.
He worked in the home improvement business in Lubbock, Texas, for several years before starting his own business, Exterior Designers. He continued to work in the home improvement industry until shortly before his death. He pursued a lifelong dream to become a race horse owner in 1976. In the early 1980s he owned more than 35 race horses. In 1980, his horse Native Gambler won the All American Derby in Ruidoso, N.M., and that year was the first year the winner's pot exceeded $1,000,000 for the derby. He continued in the race business for many more years as an owner and consultant.
Survivors include his mother; one son, Steve Benton, Houston; four daughters, Dana Parker and husband, Randall, Longview, Texas, Kathy Caldwell and husband, Danny, Austin, Texas, Melissa Craig and husband Mark, Tulsa, Okla., and Jacqueline Pickard and husband, Rick, Lampasas, Texas; five grandchildren; one brother, Mike Benton, Lubbock; and his longtime friend, Judy Self.
He was preceded in death by his father; one grandson, Bryan Swift; and one brother, Richard.
LUBBOCK, Texas - Gary Joe Benton, 66, was born April 13, 1939, to Ray and Alma Benton in Newton.
He graduated from Liberal High School in 1957. He then attended Wichita State University.
He worked in the home improvement business in Lubbock, Texas, for several years before starting his own business, Exterior Designers. He continued to work in the home improvement industry until shortly before his death. He pursued a lifelong dream to become a race horse owner in 1976. In the early 1980s he owned more than 35 race horses. In 1980, his horse Native Gambler won the All American Derby in Ruidoso, N.M., and that year was the first year the winner's pot exceeded $1,000,000 for the derby. He continued in the race business for many more years as an owner and consultant.
Survivors include his mother; one son, Steve Benton, Houston; four daughters, Dana Parker and husband, Randall, Longview, Texas, Kathy Caldwell and husband, Danny, Austin, Texas, Melissa Craig and husband Mark, Tulsa, Okla., and Jacqueline Pickard and husband, Rick, Lampasas, Texas; five grandchildren; one brother, Mike Benton, Lubbock; and his longtime friend, Judy Self.
He was preceded in death by his father; one grandson, Bryan Swift; and one brother, Richard.
He graduated from Liberal High School in 1957. He then attended Wichita State University.
He worked in the home improvement business in Lubbock, Texas, for several years before starting his own business, Exterior Designers. He continued to work in the home improvement industry until shortly before his death. He pursued a lifelong dream to become a race horse owner in 1976. In the early 1980s he owned more than 35 race horses. In 1980, his horse Native Gambler won the All American Derby in Ruidoso, N.M., and that year was the first year the winner's pot exceeded $1,000,000 for the derby. He continued in the race business for many more years as an owner and consultant.
Survivors include his mother; one son, Steve Benton, Houston; four daughters, Dana Parker and husband, Randall, Longview, Texas, Kathy Caldwell and husband, Danny, Austin, Texas, Melissa Craig and husband Mark, Tulsa, Okla., and Jacqueline Pickard and husband, Rick, Lampasas, Texas; five grandchildren; one brother, Mike Benton, Lubbock; and his longtime friend, Judy Self.
He was preceded in death by his father; one grandson, Bryan Swift; and one brother, Richard.
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