Gary Johnson Schweighardt, 74, of Kennewick, Washington passed away peacefully on July 23, 2026, at Trios Southridge surrounded by family.

Born on December 26, 1951, in Upland, California he graduated from Rim of the World High School in 1970.  He soon joined the United States Navy and served as a Corpsman attached to the US Marine Corps.  He continued to serve as an EMT and firefighter until settling on law enforcement.  He joined the Pasco Police Department, where he served as a patrol officer, arson inspector, and on the gang unit.  He spent much of his service working with kids, first as a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor working to keep kids off drugs, as a GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) instructor, and later as a school resource officer at Stevens Middle School and Ochoa Middle School.  He was injured in the line of duty and retired after 30 years of service.

He married Karen Free in 1976 and together they had three children: John, Kathryn, and Elizabeth.  His home on Yellowstone Avenue in Kennewick was the gathering place for his extended family for decades. His Fourth of July gatherings were legendary.  He loved America, family, baseball, barbecue, weather, and listening to the police scanner off duty.

He is survived by his wife Karen Schweighardt, sisters Ruthann (Rick) Horne and Kristin (Rick) Gross, wife of his late father, Marlene Schweighardt, son John (Gillian) Schweighardt, daughters Kathryn (Jeffrey) Payne and Elizabeth Schweighardt, and grandchildren Audrey, Bailey, Oliver, and Josiah.

He was preceded in death by his father Robert and mother Marjorie.

Einan’s Funeral Home is in charge of Arrangements.  An inurnment ceremony will be held at the Sunset Gardens Veterans Plaza on July 31, 2026, at 11 AM.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 2PM the same day at Einan’s Funeral Home Chapel with reception to follow.