Gary E. Gunville

It is with deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Gary Edward Gunville, a loving and devoted husband, father and friend to those lives he touched.  Gary, who’d just recently celebrated his 60th birthday, died very suddenly on July 10, 2020, from an undiagnosed cardiac episode, at his Salem, OR home.

 Born 1960, in Harlem, MT to Myrtle and Edward Gunville, he is survived by his mother, his wife of 34 years, Katherine Ellen Gunville and his daughter, Claire Anne Gunville.  He also precedes in death several brothers/sisters-in-law, George and Kerin Kirkmire of Olympia, WA, Dan and Erin Kirkmire of Twisp, WA, Alice and Russ Tuck of Phoenix, AZ, and Theresa and Mike Dalziel of Las Vegas, NV.

 The son of a mason, who traveled for his occupation, Gary grew up spending his childhood in many places, including Las Vegas, Alaska, North Dakota, Colorado and Montana, where his family ultimately settled. He had many talents, and before pursuing studies at Montana State University’s School of Architecture in Bozeman, he was also a licensed airplane mechanic.  Prior to getting his Master’s in Architecture in 1986, one evening, while playing a random game of pool in a popular Bozeman watering hole, Gary met the love of his life, Katy, who was also attending Montana State at the time.  They married about a year later in December, 1985 and after graduating the following spring, they then took up residence in Seattle, WA, where he began his profession as a Project Manager for retail, office and industrial projects in WA with MulvannyG2 Architecture. Over the years, he had a variety of positions in WA, OR and CA, in different capacities, with various architectural firms and the Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. His most proud accomplishment though, was starting his own firm, Studio G Architecture in Bend, OR, where from 2005-2010, he provided services for custom residential, commercial and industrial projects in OR and WA. Gary was also a certified member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

 A handsome man of Native American heritage, Gary lived with purpose and intention, and is remembered by those who loved him as kind, patient, very intelligent, sensitive, creative and humorous.  He liked to laugh and joke, preferred a good IPA and enjoyed spending treasured time with his brothers-in-law and Katy’s large family. He had a passion for learning, reading and listening to his favorite music, which included the Beatles and classic 70’s and 80’s artists. He and his daughter Claire shared natural artistic gifts and loved to talk about different art mediums and collaborate on different art projects.

He and Katy were largely inseparable and he appreciated life and sharing everyday adventures with his family, traveling, going on weekend drives, working on their various homes and landscaping them together.  They cultivated a shared love of design, and repurposing found items - enthusiastic about “finding unusual ways to use usual things”.  Katy describes him as her best friend since their first meeting and said, “I just loved the hell out of him”…and he, her.

During these times of Covid, since no formal service can be held at this time and we cannot celebrate this amazing life and individual, you are invited to share your thoughts and stories with his family via email at [email protected]