Gary G. McGarity, 70

Gary G. McGarity, 70, passed away on Monday, November 15, 2021, in Sagle, Idaho.

Private family services have already been held.

Gary was born on March 5, 1951, in Redding, California, to Max and Doris McGarity. He grew up attending schools in Redding and later received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Davis. Gary worked for the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management as a wildland firefighter until his retirement in the late 1980s.

From an early age, Gary loved the outdoors, earning merit badges as a Boy Scout and eventually earning his Eagle Scout Award. On one such adventure to earn his swimming badge, Gary rescued a fellow scout who was drowning and earned an award for saving the boy’s life. As he grew, so did his love of all that the outdoors had to offer; hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and improving his survival skills. As a scout master, he embarked on many adventures with his troop, among the more memorable were his hiking trips along the Pacific Crest Trail and the Trinity Alps. Later in life, his hunting and fishing trips became more about enjoying the scenery than harvesting.

In 1972, Gary met Jeanne Faber and after a couple years of courtship, the couple married and remained so for 47 years. He enjoyed finding places in nature that he could hike to with Jeanne, where she could set up her easel and paint the landscape, capturing a moment in time together on canvas.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne McGarity of Sagle; stepdaughter, Cameron Bradley of Redding; grandchildren, Chris Miller of Weed, California, and Dustin Garrett of Portland, Oregon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Daryl Dean, Lee and Buddy Staus.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Gary’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.