Obituary of Gary Dale Kittell

Gary Dale Kittell, 79, passed away after a brief illness. He is survived by his dear wife, Patricia, and a blended family that brought him great joy: cherished daughters, Valerie and Andrea (Matthew); grandsons, William and Brady; and beloved step-family: children, Dawn, Sean (Jenene), and Shane (Mike); grandchildren Derrick (Adela), Julia, Olivia, Audrey, Spencer (Grace), Brent, and Blake; and great-granddaughter Scarlett. He is also survived by brother, Larry (Susie) and sister, Denice (Robert); nephew, Edward, and niece, Katrina. He is preceded in death by his mother, Katherine, and nephew, Larry, Jr.

Originally from Marietta, Ohio, Gary was born with lung problems. The family moved to the warmer and drier climate of Tucson when Gary was a young boy. Gary defeated the doctors’ odds and lived past sixteen! He was an all-around athlete and lettered in baseball and football. He spent the majority of his life as a high school baseball umpire and football referee. He loved the vibe of high school football Friday night lights. He was also an avid weekend golfer.

His career was as a photofinisher, and he worked almost exclusively at Jones Photo since he was a teenager. In his later years, he also loved preparing the taxes of his clients at H & R Block.

Gary was blessed with several friend groups, including former classmates, fellow officials, neighbors, and work colleagues.

Gary was known for his generosity, strong work ethic, love of children, and sense of humor. He is sorely missed and will never be forgotten by those who love him.

Memorial service to be held Saturday, October 7th, 2023 at 11am, Resurrection Lutheran Church, 11575 N 1st Ave, Oro Valley, AZ 85737.