Gary Dee Garner
September 25, 1939 - June 16, 2016
Obituary
Gary Dee Garner, 76, of Maple Valley, WA, passed away at home on June 16, 2016 surrounded by his wife and children. The funeral will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 10 a.m. There will be a Celebration of Life after the service at Lake Wilderness Villa Club House, 24100 Witte Road SE, Maple Valley, WA.
Gary was born on September 25, 1939 in Kent, WA. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1957, where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Judy Maletta. They were happily married for 58 years. They had 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren who were all his pride and joy.
Gary served our country in the United States Navy. He worked as a plumber for Local 32 for 35 years. Gary loved spending time with his family and friends. During his life, he enjoyed many activities such as flying, reading, landscaping and gardening, hunting, camping trips with the family, road trips, wine, food, laughing, and cheering on the Seattle home teams.
Gary is survived by his wife Judy, son Mike (Theresa), daughters ReNee’, Lori (Dana), and Sheryl (Mick), and his brother Lowell.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Larry, and brother, Paul.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Children’s Hospital Burn Unit.
Gary’s family wishes to thank all the family and friends who offered their love and support.
I will love you always. I miss you so much. Thank you for everything, our Man of Steel. You mean the world to me. Love You Forever. Lori
You will always be my hero Grandpa. Im sure gonna miss the talks we had, you always gave the best. you’ll forever be missed i love you.
Well Dad what can i say, you fought harder than any other man could have. You’ll alway’s be in my thoughts. Can i still ask you for advice? Thanks for everything you thought me. Love ya and I’ll always miss you. R.I.P my friend. Love from Theresa and I.
I don’t know where to start but I do know how honored you were by many & I learned that thru this process. Your so strong & We’ll will always remember your courage & the fight you put up so you could have one more day to be with your family & mom. Love you forever Dad you’ll never be forgotten & you’ll forever be in my thoughts! Miss U
Your legacy of hard work, love of family, and humility lives on in all of us. I hope we do you proud. You are deeply loved and greatly missed.
You give me courage and strength to continue in life. To enjoy and appreciate every moment from this day forward. Thank you for beinging and staying who you were ment to be. I love and miss you Grandpa…
Gary, a great guy who will be missed ! Check in on Richie when you get there !
My thoughts and prayers are with Judy and all the family! Gary will be missed by many. His spirit lives on !
Gary was the most wonderful guy we have ever met.A true and honest friend. We enjoyed our visits to his beautiful home in Eatonville and new home in Maple Valley. Some day our whole crew will be with Gary at Tahoma. We miss you Gary you will never leave our hearts. All our love to Gary’s outstanding family. God Bless
Words are so empty. My husband and myself are so saddened with the passing of Gary. Gary and Judy were neighbors of ours by our back 5 acres for several years before we actually introduced ourselves. I remember that I was spraying our fence line with Round Up, which kills everything, and I saw Gary and said something to the effect that I was hopeful that he didn’t mind me spraying. Gary looked at me with that cute crocked little smile and nod of his head and said something along the line of knock yourself out! From that time on, we cherished our friendship. Gary had an old ’83 Ford flatbed that he was going to junk, he didn’t have much luck keeping it running, anyway, Terry bought the truck, and of course, Terry and I worked and worked on it and finally got it running! We had so much fun racing that 450 engine loud enough so that Judy and Gary would hear it; I’m not sure who was having the most fun, ha! We have missed our visits since their move to Maple Valley to be close to family, but also know that it was a good thing for them. Even though we know the new owners of the Garner’s home, we still call it Gary and Judy’s house. They may have relocated geographically, but not from our hearts and memories! Our prayers continue for the entire family!
My thoughts are with you all during your difficult time of loss.
Gary sure glad that we got the chance to get to know you and Judy has been really nice getting to know you. Know you put up quite a fight and know that you are a fighter. You are going to be missed a lot by all of your family and friends as know there are many. Thoughts and prayers to you, Judy and all of your family in this difficult time. You are not suffering any longer and that is a good thing and know that you never complained about any pain at all. Thank you again for all of the good times
To know Gar was to know a true gentleman. Kind and generous, loving and patient.
Gary and Jude became my family through a long-ago marriage
and I have always loved and respected them and the beautiful family they created. The most loyal of humanity.
My love to each one, especially Jude who was Gary’s other perfect half.
I will miss him always and remember his sweet disposition
often. His legacy is the example he set for future generations.
Words can not express how blessed I have been to have you and Auntie Judy in my life. Thank you for always being the authentic person you were. No one ever could have doubted how much you loved your family and adored Auntie Judy. What an amazing gift you have given to the generations to come after you who have and will reap all of the benefits of this endless love. You have been nothing but a blessing to this world and I am so grateful that I got to be a part of it. Please give Uncle Todd a love for us and remind him of how lucky he is to get you. We are jealous!!
Gary, Thank you for all the help and advice over the years. But most of all thank you for Lori. You will be in our hearts always. Miss you, Dana
Dear Gary,
You were such a wonderful soul. You and Judy created such a beautiful loving family I loved watching all the crazy cousins get together for fun, love and laughter. Give mom a hug for me big guy. Hugs
Gary was an outstanding example of a loving husband, father and grandfather. We have loved being part of the extended Garner family that Gary and Judy have raised so well.
Dear Judy,
I am so sorry to hear about Gary’s passing. Mona let me know and I just want to give you my deepest sympathy. It sounds like you two had a wonderful life together.
With love,
Little Tommy
It’s hard to understand why someone with so much goodness, kindness, gentleness, just a great guy is taken from his family and friends. Gary touched so many lives in so many ways, left so many wonderful memories for us all. Bill and I will always have him in our hearts and thoughts. He’s in good hands now with Mary and our John.
Condolances properly describing a great man are sometimes difficult to put into words. Perhaps, it is best said in the following poem by Joan Clifton Costner
” When a good man dies, a thousand lights go out.
And it’s said, a giant library is lost.
Oh, I’ve tried to make comparisons and wise cliches –
To estimate, in part, a good man’s loss.
For I know the way it feels to have your heart bend low
And understand how dark the nights can be.
But a good man has a heritage beyond the grave
And we would be so foolish not to see.
That, a good man leaves a light his children follow.
No groping through some wilderness or maze.
And howe’er their lives, it shines on in brillance
That they can see til ending of their days.
His words come ringing deep, in vibrant stereo.
Within the keen recesses of their minds.
There’s guidance there, enough to get to Heaven –
Where once again, their hearts and arms entwine.
I’m so sorry for your loss here, on the earth below.
But I’m proud to say, ” A good man went away.”
You’ll see him soon, it won’t be long.
Just follow the lights a good man left upon the way.”
Dearest Judy, I wish I could be with all of you, but I want you to know you’re in my thoughts and prayers everyday..
Love Ya (((( hugs ))))
Gary was always a caring and calming person for our family, His voice and joking demeanor always worked its magic when it was needed most.
Gary’s laugh will be missed, I can only imagine what he and Uncle John are going to do next.
Judy and Family, our hearts ache for you at Gary’s passing! Gone, but Gary will NEVER be forgotten! May happy memories of your life together sustain you all through this sad time. Thoughts and prayers are sent to warm your heart! Manny and Judy
A great tribute today to a fabulous man – shown in the huge number of people’s lives he touched. So many in attendance.. and so many in spirit..!
Gary will always be remembered with a smile – and forever right there in your heart…
Hugs to Judy and kids – what a Legacy !!
Gary, Thank you for all your love all these years..
I love & will miss you
Love Judy
Love your forever and the wonderful energy you shared with all of us, a gentle giant, give dad a hug from me. XOXO
I met Gary and Judy when we were both having radiation at the same time and he always had a smile on his face and a wonderful attitude even though he was suffering with his cancer. I enjoyed talking so much to both of them and will remember him fondly as he made me feel like we had been friends for a lifetime. I thank God for the short time we had together.
Judy and family, Gary was so much fun. He knew how to have a good time. I remember the big anniversary party they had and how your whole family enjoyed being together with all your friends. Gary so proud of all the family. Keep his memory by staying close. I will miss him dearly. And think of you all . Margaret Ann “Maggie”
What do you say about the man, the myth, the legend? Any words that you use to describe him fall short or don’t seem good enough or just don’t get the right meaning or just don’t do him justice. Words can’t encapsulate the way he could make you feel with just a glance or a few words. The way he could make any problem you were having seem meaningless in the grand scheme of life. I try to remember an inside joke or a funny story to share and I draw a blank. This is probably because every time that you were with him you had laughs and his uncanny ability to always make you feel special. I know what I will miss most is stories we would share of places we had been and things we had done, while drinking bourbon and rolling our eyes at each other as Nanie brings a third plate of spaghetti. I love you Grandpa.
But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated. – E. Hemingway
Oh Gary, where do I start??? We met when I was a little girl, lost contact and reunited six years ago. What wonderful times we shared with my Cousin Judy and you whether it was just coming over for a visit, going to breakfast. lunch or dinner, the bbq’s, our Rummikub games, your help and kindness when Gene had knee surgery, you sitting with us when I lost my brother, etc. You always offered your help expecting nothing in return. Remembering all of the good times we had together, your smiles, making me laugh until I cried, big bear hugs, your comfort just in the short time I knew you. I can see the love you gave to all who knew you especially though your wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and friends. You were truly a great example of what a human being should be and I sure wished there were more people like you in this world. You fought a good fight and endured so much without complaint.
You have given all of us enough love to carry in our hearts for the rest of our days here on earth. So as I look around my house I smile as I remember the good times and sit in ‘your chair’ and say hi to you as I drink my coffee. You have done all of your family proud. We will be there for Cousin Judy and try to give her some of the love and support that you’ve given her thoughout your life. We will forever miss you, you were such a wonderful man. R.I.P.
Love,
Cousin Mona and Gene
I always remember Gary for his smile and sense of humor.
I will miss the big bear hug I got when I visited you guys.
I am so thankful we got to connect after all those years.
Judy, you couldn’t have found a better soul-mate than Gary!
I know you will miss him dreadfully, but he will always be in our hearts.
Cousin Deena
Here aresome of my good memories of Gary:-))) I love you and miss you Cousin Gary. These pictures make me smile.
Love,
Cousin Mona
Hi Dad, I miss you so much. Love Always, Lori
Gary, It was a pleasure to meet you a few years back. You were such a great guy. I loved hearing all the stories you had to tell about your wonderful life with Judy. You will be missed dearly.
Cousin Judy, Sending our thoughts, prayers and love!
From your Campagna Cousins in California
Life seems to fly by when we are loved as Gary loved you, Judy. Now family and friends will try and take up the void I know that you feel. Be strong and know that my Patricia
is already looking out for Gary in that better place. All my love.. Cousin Joey
Hey Pop’s, just a quick note, I miss you so much, i have so much to tell you and ask you. FYI, the twins are doing great,
and Mom miss’s you dearly. hope all is well with you.
I love you Dad.
Gary is away but each time a story is told, a moment remembered, an experience shared with Judy, his spirit is there with us – smiling, laughing and dreaming about our next adventure! We love and miss you!!
Hi Cousin Gary. Well today was your 77th birhtday. I looked at cards to find the perfect one I would have sent to you if you were still here. Gene and I miss you so much. You were a great cousin and a true friend. We miss you so much and are sad you are not here with us today. But you will always be with us in our hearts and memories. We think of you often and tell our family and friends about you and what a teriffic person you were. I know your family are together today to celebrate your birthday and I’m hoping that you can feel all of the love we are all sending your way. We pray that you are in a better place and happy. One day we will be seeing you again. Bye for now my sweet cousin. I love you and RIP.
Love,
Cousin Mona and Gene
Dear Dad, Hi, it’s me again. I miss you so much. I talk to you quite a bit. Can you hear me? I really miss hearing your voice and saying hi hon, how is everything. There are so many things I wish you were here for. We’re taking care of mom and looking out for her, but she misses you so much. I will always miss you. There was never any judgment from you, just honest, unconditional love and hoping the best for all of us. I love you dad. Lori