“Anything is possible.” That is what Gary Charles Howe believed about life. He was a creative man, a perpetual inventor, who seemed to be able to find a solution for any difficulty confronting him. He had faith in his ability to find those solutions. Gary thoroughly enjoyed understanding how things worked. He possessed an inquisitive, confident, and rational nature matched with a versatile and agile mind. Gary was a person who believed that he could achieve whatever he set out to do.
Gary was born on August 14, 1953 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California. His parents were Shirlee and Jack Howe. Gary was raised in California. He showed his ingenuity even as a child. When he was confronted with a problem, Gary could develop an imaginative solution, and he derived satisfaction from knowing he had that ability.
This same talent for finding solutions had a positive bearing on Gary's family relationships. Gary was raised with four siblings. He had three younger brothers, Larry, Steven, and Harold, and one younger sister, Kathy. When a difficult situation or dilemma arose within the family, Gary was always there to help figure out a solution for making things work.
As a young boy, Gary could be found building and inventing new and different things. He was curious, resourceful and interested in anything original. Gary took part in tennis, football, and baseball. In his spare time he liked to play sports and ride the train in Walt Disney's backyard.
Endowed with an appetite for knowing how his world worked, Gary enjoyed school, especially when the learning experience involved dissecting and probing the unknown. Gary was adept at scrutinizing different possibilities and designing innovative solutions. He graduated from Burbank High School in 1971. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was PE.
Because he was a quick thinker and adept at picking up on new things, Gary performed well in college. He was always on a quest for knowledge and he relished the experience. Theories intrigued him, and he was good at solving complex problems. He always wanted to understand rather than judge. He earned his Associates Degree.
Gary was socially resourceful, an expressive person who was willing to try new things. These qualities drew a lively circle of friends around him. Always interested in his friends’ activities and interests, Gary was uncritical of his acquaintances. He was sought after by people who recognized that he was generous with his time and energy, and these same friends found Gary to be very stimulating company. Gary's humor and curiosity were contagious for those around him. While growing up, one of his best friends was Chris Anderson. Later in life, he became friends with many fishermen and hunters.
On May 14, 1988 Gary exchanged wedding vows with Cheri Michelle Kissock at a chapel at Lake Tahoe of Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Gary was adept at devising original and creative ways to enhance and improve the marriage partnership. Gary was seldom a critical person, but rather the one who was able to bring out the best in others. Gary was an entertaining conversationalist who was quick to respond to his spouse’s needs. He was a vibrant personality and he enjoyed verbally sparring with Cheri. In fact, those who knew him often remarked that Gary loved to argue for argument’s sake. He was very perceptive in recognizing others’ feelings, especially regarding Cheri's.
Gary's remarkable talent for being inventive influenced his relationship with his children. He would create original, clever and fun games for his kids and had a knack for finding ways to make everyday events, even chores, enjoyable to them. Gary was blessed with four children, Three daughters, Nichole, Ashley, and Sunny and one son, Brandon. Someone who was quick to laugh, Gary found it easy to spend lots of time with his children, but he was never overbearing or guilty of pushing himself on them.
As a born inventor, Gary was definitely in his element in his work place. He could easily create new and innovative systems, and incorporate those changes to bring a fresh approach to any work situation. Gary was a focused worker with a strong drive for achievement. He could assess all of the options before him and, using his analytical skills, could comfortably find answers that no one else had even considered. His personal initiative inspired those around him. Gary was always good at getting a project started and then, at the appropriate time, handing it on to a colleague. His primary occupation was professional transportation specialist. He was employed for 18 years at Tri-Met. Gary always made an effort to be a team player, doing what needed was necessary in order to get the job done.
Gary's “never say die” attitude and his ability to face any challenge no matter how difficult it might be were tremendous assets that Gary carried with him into the military. Gary was an Army veteran. He was in the Army Special Forces for two years. Gary saw action for the Vietnam War.
Gary's passion for finding a better way to do things was often an end in itself for him. In fact, that interest by itself became something of a hobby for this perpetual problem solver. Since Gary was always searching for new and unusual activities, he developed many interests and leisure pursuits. Some of the things he became an “expert” in might come as a surprise to those who knew him, but most friends and family understood that Gary simply couldn’t be limited to just a few activities or ideas. His favorite pursuits were fishing, camping, spending time with his family, collecting knives, and photography.
Gary's calm demeanor and eternally positive outlook served him well in sports. In high school, Gary played Tennis, Swimming, and Football. Recreational sports included surfing, golf, tennis, fishing, and hunting. Gary was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were tennis, football, and fishing.
Having the opportunity to visit and explore a new place always intrigued Gary. Traveling and going away on vacations offered yet another opportunity for Gary to expand his ever-growing inventory of knowledge. Favorite vacations included camping at Fort Stevens, Timothy Lake, and Detroit Lake.
Gary was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Gary's favorites was Holly, a Black Chow Chow dog. They were best friends for 16 years. His family was rounded out by his Cockatoo, Popcorn and his dog, Harley. The family also had many other pets.
Gary passed away on February 8, 2010 at his home in Milwaukie, OR. Gary had fought a long battle with asthma. He is survived by his wife, Cheri, his children, Nichole, Ashley, Sunny, and Brandon, his mother Shirlee, his brothers Larry, Harold, and Steve and his sister, Kathy. Services were held at Lincoln Memorial and Funeral Home. Gary was cremated and continues to watch over his home and family.
During his lifetime, nothing appeared impossible to Gary. He met the words “it can’t be done” with the enthusiastic challenge of a “wanna bet” attitude. Gary was able to recognize the possibilities a new idea held, even when those around him could not. For Gary, the traditional way of doing things fell short of his expectations, especially if there were original and untested methods for handling a challenge. For Gary Charles Howe, the fun of living his life could be found in the challenge.
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