Gary Wayne Lewis

Gary Wayne Lewis, born March 2, 1943 to Delbert and Norma Lewis in McMinnville, Oregon, the second of their five children. Gary was raised in Sheridan, Oregon until 1957 when the family relocated to Hillsboro, OR. In 1961 Gary graduated from Hillsboro High School and the family moved to Keizer, OR and Gary began working at Montgomery Wards in Portland.

In 1962 Gary joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany, had a tour of duty in Vietnam during the war, he was then stationed in Italy and finally New Jersey where he taught electronics. Following his discharge in 1972, Gary and his family, then wife Polly and children David G. Lewis and Patricia A. Lewis moved to Salem, OR and Gary worked in the photo copier industry as a repairman.

Gary married his wife, Kathi, in 1987 and went to work at Spirit Mt. Casino as a supervisor in the slot technician department and later went to work at Chinook Winds Casino as a slot technician and Gary and Kathi moved to Lincoln City, OR until their retirement in 2005 at which time they returned to Salem.

Gary had a wonderful sense of humor, was an avid woodworker, collector of model cars, loved hunting annually with his family, and fishing.

Gary is survived by his wife Kathleen; son, David (Donna) Lewis; daughter Patricia (Steven) Schmitt; brothers, Larry and Tom; sisters, Karen McCutcheon and Deborah Cuthbert; grandchildren, Thomas, Katie, Saghaley, Inatye, Michael Becka, Jamie Oakes and Laura Oakes-Gillespie; and great-grandchildren Karsen and Rhiley.

Gary was a loving father, husband and grandfather. He will be missed by all.

Gary was a member of the Grand Ronde Tribe, Santiam Kalapuya, Takelma and Chinook ancestry.

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, January 24 at 11:00 a.m. at the Grand Ronde Tribal Cemetery. A reception will follow.

Arrangements by Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors, Salem, OR.