Kenneth Gilbert

Kenneth Gilbert

     Greybull – Kenny “Okie” Gilbert, 89, passed November 5, 2023, at Three Rivers Health Hospital.  He was born January 2, 1934, in Coweta, Oklahoma, the son of Elzie Gilbert and Fanny (Jackson) Gilbert.

   The Gilbert family moved from Oklahoma to Greybull in 1952.  Kenny returned to Coweta, Oklahoma in 1956 to work at his older brother’s sawmill.  In 1957 Kenny married Jeraline (Harris) Bachman and moved back to Greybull where they started a family together. They share five children.   

     “Okie” was a “jack of all trades”!  He was one of the very best mechanics around and could fix anything.  You could find him trimming trees, hauling hay, scrap iron, and “rough necked” on oil rigs, plus you could always find him “making a deal”.  Kenny guided for few years for Bluejacket Outfitters in the 70’s. Later, Kenny and Jeri owned and operated the Wheels Inn Motel and Café on the north end of Greybull.   

     Kenny’s hobbies were drag racing, riding tote-gotes in the mountains, hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.  Kenny was always helping people in need.  If an individual couldn’t find an item that they needed, they knew they could go straight to “Okie” and he would have it or if he didn’t, he would find it for them.  In his later years, his passions were his “treasures”.

     In addition to his parents, he was preceded by an older brother, Edgar Gilbert, and sisters Edna Carver and Shirley Bogle and his son-in-law Mike Lipp.   

     He is survived by his sisters Loreva Baker, Eloise Smith, Barabra Tuthill, Darla Simpson, and his younger brother Gary Gilbert.  His five children, Elvin Gilbert, Lyna (Mike) Smith, Serena Lipp, Ken Ray Gilbert, and Melanie (Kavin) Stockert and his 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

     The family would like to thank Three Rivers Hospital and Stillwater Hospice.  A special thank you to Jody Lafko, Jeff Eaton and Autumn Lewis for their love and care. 

     No service will be held, a family memorial will be held next summer to take place on the Big Horn Mountain, which he loved.