It's been over three months since we lost Daddy.  Feels like it was just yesterday but also that it's been the longest three months of our lives. 

Gary was as kind and hard-working a person as you'll ever meet.  He didn't know a stranger.  He made friends at the grocery store check-out line.  He spent seemingly every weekend driving his grandkids to football games, or helping neighbors move, or fixing his kids' cars.  Telling Dad-jokes while doing it, with his signature belly-jiggling chuckle.  Sometimes he'd just chuckle unprovoked...repeatedly...just begging someone to ask him what was so funny, so he'd have permission to unleash his latest Dad-joke (you'd asked for it, afterall.)  Though he was a prop comic as well, with classics like the extenda-fork and ponytail hat.  His demeanor put people at ease.  He was so liked....and also respected. 

He was a U.S. Marine, and kept in touch with those service buddies all his life.  He was a truck-driver.  He literally drove a million miles.  He loved to go, to drive, to see things.  He took a motorcycle with him on the truck so he could explore his destinations on his down-time.  We took some great family road trips.  He kept a sketchbook, drew really well.  He could play multiple instruments, taught himself to play the harmonica because it was a "hobby he could carry in his pocket."  When we were kids, he took us to historic sites and museums, he taught us to love art.  We laid on the living room floor listening to classical music and talking about what we saw in our minds as we listened.  We played together, so many backyard games...he taught me how to "choke up" on the bat.  He cheered enthusiastically after each and every dance-show my sister and I put on.  He was so much fun. 

He showed his daughters how they should be treated by a man, by example with how much he respected and adored his best friend and wife of 54 years, and by how he took such care of us.  And he taught us to take care of ourselves, waking us up every Saturday to go check the oil in our car, or teaching us how to budget our money.  He took time to write me long letters when I was away at college.  He was a father to his grandkids when they desperately needed one.  Their "Papa" means the world to them.  He wouldn't miss a grand-kid's band performance or dance recital.  He enjoyed his life.  He was so steady.  He was our strength.  He was our cheerleader.  He was our harbor.  So many people have said, "He was one of a kind."

Losing him has been the very hardest thing.  Losing him during this time when we aren't able to get much-needed hugs from family and friends, and when we aren't able to gather to celebrate a life that deserves so much to be celebrated, has made it so much harder.   He has been interred at Leavenworth National Cemetery, a place of honor, up on the hill because he always did enjoy a nice view.  We'd love to meet anyone there if you'd like to visit.  When we can, we hope to gather all those who loved him, and whom he loved, to celebrate and remember him.   In the meantime, we'll take any and all Gary stories and pictures we can get!  Such a beautiful person.  So loved and so missed.  

Here's a link to some classic Gary pics - cute little guy, growing up, tough marine, happy husband, father and grandfather.  https://www.flickr.com/gp/190235569@N02/8399qV

Thank you so much for all the prayers and kind words!  We love you all!

Lorie, Amy, Sarah, Aaron, Molly, Nick, Emmett, Nora & Ben