ROCK FALLS – Gary E. Smith, 73, of Rock Falls, died Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. He worked for Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. in Sterling for 37 years.

Gary was born Dec. 10, 1938, in Rockford, the son of Gleason and Vivian (Pearson) Smith. He married Marilyn Burn on Jan. 23, 1987, in Miami Dade County, Fla. Gary was an avid gardener who shared a large garden with close neighbors. He loved fishing and reading. He dearly enjoyed his pets and nature.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn of Rock Falls; (former wife, Jacqueline Howard Smith) of Tucson, Ariz., mother of Gary Smith Jr. of Tucson, Grant (LuAnn) Smith of Alaska, Brian (Andrea) Smith and Jill (Anthony) Bernardo, both of Tucson, and Joy Smith of Phoenix; one stepdaughter, Dawn (Ray) Stage of Fulton; one stepson, Tom (Debbie) Tiesman of Rock Falls; one sister, Karen (Ronald) Lippens of Harmon; nine grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.