Gary L. Larson

May 20, 1945 ~ January 8, 2022
Gary L. Larson, 76, passed away peacefully at the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, WA, on Jan. 8, 2022. Gary was born May 20, 1945, in Mobridge, SD, to Lester and Marjorie Larson. At the age of seven, Gary’s family relocated to Camas, WA, where he graduated from Camas High School. After high school, he joined the Navy and served his country during the Vietnam War. Gary was proud of his time in the Navy and was stationed in San Diego and in the South Pacific on the island of Guam.
After his service in the Navy, Gary and his wife Celia settled in Washougal, WA, where they raised their two sons. Gary returned to employment at Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill in Camas, WA. He later transferred to the West Linn, OR, Paper Mill, where he worked in the Purchasing Dept. until he retired. Later, he worked in outside sales and started a woodworking business.
Gary loved his family and enjoyed coaching his sons in basketball and soccer. He also enjoyed woodworking and playing golf with family and friends. Gary was a longtime member of the Orchard Hills Golf and Country Club in Washougal, WA. He took great pleasure in his home and acreage on the Little Washougal River. He loved tinkering in his shop with his golden lab Sadie, his constant companion at his side.
He was elected Fire Commissioner for over 35 years, representing the Fern Prairie area. Most of those years, he served as Board Chair, helping the district provide training, apparatus, facilities for local volunteers, and then part-time and full-time personnel, as the area’s population increased and the demand for services grew. He always worked to ensure that local firefighters were given the best training and equipment that the District could provide. Gary loved his community and felt it was his duty to provide for its safety and well-being.
Gary is survived by his wife of 56 years, Celia Larson; sons, Troy Larson of Missoula, MT, and Erik Larson (Nikki) of Bend, OR; his sister, Louise Bennett (Hugh) of Vancouver, WA; and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Gary in July.