Gerald "Gary" William Whitaker, 73, of Ripley, TN, passed away on Monday, March 8, 2021 at Jackson Madison County General Hospital.

Gary was born on November 29, 1947, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to the late, Gerald Whitaker, Sr. and the late Alma Fuhrman Whitaker. He was a retired deputy sheriff with the Twin Falls Sheriff Department and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Gary proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation services are under the direction of Dyersburg Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Sandie Whitaker of Ripley, TN; four sons, Daryl VanVeldhuizen (Pam) of Reno, NV, Bryan VanVeldhuizen of Lori, CA, Jim Whitaker of Las Vegas, NV and Michael Richardson (Brittany) of Snelling, CA; three daughters, Teri Jo Bond (Michael) of Bainbridge Island, WA, Jeni Jo Foster (John) of Henderson, NV and Tammy Jo Stone (Jared) of Erda, UT; a brother, Tom Whitaker (Becky) of Lodi, CA; a sister, Bonnie Conner of Idaho; fifteen grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.