Obituary of Gary M. Tubbs

Gary M. Tubbs June 3, 1942 - September 8, 2015 Gary M Tubbs, 73, of the Fargher Lake area, passed away Sept. 8, 2015. In 2012, he had a major health setback that left him bed bound and he moved to the Edelweiss Adult Care Home in Vancouver. Gary lost his battle and died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of Sept. 8, 2015. He was born in Portland, Oregon to Florence (Dixon) and Chester Tubbs and lived on the family dairy farm in Woodland, Washington until his father’s death in 1946. Several years followed where Gary and his two sisters, Glynne and Sheryl, lived with various family members until Florence’s marriage to Howard Johansen when Gary was eight years old. Howard and Florence subsequently added a sister Linda and two brothers, William and Thomas, where they made the family home in Battle Ground, Washington. Gary graduated from Battle Ground High School in 1960. He remained friends with many of his classmates to the end. Gary joined the Navy where he was in the communications division as an E6 until his discharge in 1966. He would often tell many great stories of his Navy days, playfully boasting of his meeting Admiral Nimitz, his experiences of being on an ice breaker in the frigid Alaskan waters, his multiple trips to Vietnam and the Far East on a refrigerator supply ship. In 1966 Gary started working at the Vancouver School District, starting in the ground maintenance department, then as a custodian, and eventually to being the warehouse supervisor until his retirement in 1996. Gary married Darlene Pendell in 1960 and sons Jon and Jeff were born while he was in the Navy. Jeff was 2 months old before Gary saw him and he wanted out of the Navy as soon as possible to be with his family. In 1971 Gary and Darlene eventually made the family home in Vancouver, Washington, where Darlene still lives today. Gary was remarried to Lucy (Witt) Chumbley in 1995. Gary would often say that he now had a third son, Kevin, who was 16 at the time. Gary and Lucy built their dream house in the Fargher Lake area with the help of their 3 sons and brother, Tom. It was truly a family accomplishment. In July 2002, at the age of 60, Gary had a severe stroke that left him paralyzed. With several years of rehabilitation he was able to stay at home with his wife Lucy but his life, body, and mind were changed forever. He was able to make a couple of trips to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a week on Lake Roosevelt in a houseboat and camping a few times. He loved to travel but it was hard on him. Gary enjoyed hunting, golfing, dancing, and restoring old cars, but mostly spending time with family and friends. He was a great story teller and would enjoy “ entertaining ” at any gathering. Gary truly loved his family and had 5 grandchildren. Jeff’s daughter, Stephanie; Jon’s son, Patrick and daughter Kelsey; as well as Kevin’s two sons, Josh and Jacob. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Chester Tubbs; mother, Florence (Dixon) Johansen; stepfather, Howard Johansen; sister, Sheryl; and brother, William. The family would like to thank Gertrude and Johann Arkosi, owners of the Edelweiss Care Home, and Chelsey for the excellent, skilled and compassionate care Gary received for the last 3 years of his life. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Cascadia Cremation and Burial and a private family service will be held at Park Hill Cemetery. The family would like to invite everyone that knew Gary to a Celebration of Life to be held at Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland, September 26 at 5 pm. Casual dress requested.