Obituary - Gary Eugene Dow

Gary Eugene Dow, age 86, died of natural causes on April 4th, 2023, in Vancouver, Washington with his 3 children by his side.

Gary is survived by his daughter Julie Del Carlo of Brush Prairie, Washington; son, Kevin Dow of Great Falls, Montana, and daughter Jerilyn Hanson of Oregon City, Oregon; his sister, Patricia Gehlen, of Boulder, Colorado; and his brother Charles Dow, of Great Falls, Montana. Gary has six grandchildren, Juliana Del Carlo, Olivia Leslie, Hunter Dow, Delany McCauley, Logan Hanson, and Lucas Hanson. He has three great-grandchildren: Remi Leslie, Graham, and Porter McCauley.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Martha Anne Dow, of Klamath Falls, Oregon; his parents, Perciful Dow and Alveda Dow, of Havre, Montana; and his brother, Bryan Dow, of Issaquah, Washington.

Gary was born July 3, 1936, in Havre, Montana, to parents Percy and Alveda Dow. He graduated from Havre High School in 1954. Growing up the grandson and son of two generations of Montana farmers, it was natural for him to start working on the farm as a very young boy. He continued to farm until the early 2000s, when he finally decided to retire. He also worked several positions including engineer and fireman for Burlington Northern Railroad. During the spring, summer and fall seasons he worked hard, long days, operating the Big Bud or VersatileTractor early in the mornings until his son, Kevin, took over while he headed to the Havre Railway Station and worked the trains. He moved to Klamath Falls in 1992 when Martha Anne accepted a position as the vice president of Oregon Institute of Technology. Gary continued to spend summers farming in Montana for several years after moving to Klamath Falls.

Gary appreciated close ties to family and was part of the large Dow/Larson clan of aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was a loving and proud father and grandfather. Gary and Martha Anne were married 47 years until her death in September of 2007 when she succumbed to breast cancer.

Gary was very sociable and enjoyed being around people. He was passionate about helping disabled and terminally ill children receive fully paid medical expenses through his active membership of the Masonic Temple and as a lifelong Shriner. A model of his hands is part of Havre artist Jack Van Koten's commissioned bronze statue that stands prominently in front of the Shriner's Hospital in Spokane.

Gary was a gifted musician and spent many nights playing his saxophone at nightclubs throughout Havre and the Hi-Line. He enjoyed golfing with friends and family and always had a funny golf adventure story to tell. He moved to Vancouver in 2007 to a home he and Martha Anne were planning for retirement. Unfortunately, she passed away before that came to fruition. Gary went on to be an active member of the City of Battleground Community Band and the Brush Prairie Methodist Church. His family and friends will always remember him as a funny jokester who laughed a lot, an amazing musician and life of the party for most of his years.

Unfortunately, in 2016, he suffered a stroke and a second one in 2018. His personality changed some after his strokes, but his sense of humor remained, and he still giggled with us on the golf course and during chats through his witty sarcasm. He continued with community band and church up until the pandemic.

A celebration of life is scheduled Sunday April 30th, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. at the Evergreen Funeral Home in Vancouver, Washington, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Gary's life.

The family would like to thank his family and friends for their loving support. Flowers and donations made to Shriner's Hospital can be sent to 1101 NE 112th Ave, Vancouver, WA 988684.

A celebration of life also will be held in Havre, Montana, over the weekend of July 13th, 14th and 15th. Details will come later.