Gary Gover

Gary G. Gover
May 19, 1940 – April 1, 2024
Gary Gover passed away on April 1, 2024 at the age of 83. Anyone who knew Gary
has to smile at the idea of him getting the last laugh with dying on April Fool’s
Day! A celebration of life will be held at the Pine Valley Fairgrounds in Halfway,
OR on Saturday, April 27 starting at 11 a.m. All friends and family are welcome to
attend, share a story, raise a glass and help celebrate the life of a wonderful
husband, dad, Bapa and friend.
Gary was born in Baker City, Oregon, the middle son of Jr. and Helen Gover on
May 19, 1940. He was raised in Halfway, OR where he graduated from high school
in 1958. Gary was active in sports, FFA and raising a whole lot of hell around the
valley. He always said he was so glad he actually graduated from high school,
without getting kicked out, that he wore his class ring until it was worn almost
completely smooth.
Gary worked on his family ranch in Halfway while also working for Idaho Power,
then the BLM and then as a construction worker on Hells Canyon Dam. It was
while he was at Hells Canyon that he met and quickly fell in love with the Dam
Nurse, Mary Weber. They were engaged on their third date but kept it to
themselves for a while so they wouldn’t be accused of being crazy. Gary and Mary
were married on August 12, 1966 in Sanborn, ND at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Those crazy kids were married for over 57 years! We are pretty sure it was his
dancing skills that Mary noticed first as he was light on his feet and could dance
with the best of ‘em.
Gary and Mary made their home in Halfway then moved to Orofino, ID where he
worked on Dworshak Dam. While in Orofino they welcomed their son, Scott and
daughter, Kathy. They lived in Moscow, ID for a short time until moving to La
Grande OR when Gary transferred with the phone company. He stayed at GTE
until retiring in 1996. Upon moving to La Grande, Gary re-enlisted in the Oregon
Army National Guard and stayed until he retired as a Sergeant First Class (E7) in
1996.
Gary loved traveling, hunting, fishing and camping. The family spent a lot of their
weekends working and playing on their property in Halfway. He shared his love of
the outdoors and hunting with his kids and eventually grandkids. Gary and Mary
took them on camping trips to see as many parks as they could get to. Traveling
together was one of Gary and Mary’s favorite things to do. Planes, trains and
automobiles took them all over the US and parts of Canada and Mexico.
Gary was known as Bapa by his grandkids. Those kids had him wrapped around
their finger! He was a very proud Bapa and always let friend know what the
grandkids were up to. He instilled in them the knowledge of what hard work is
and what it takes to make your family proud. If you were to ask any of his
grandchildren they would tell you what a huge impact he had on them from a
very young age and how that impact helped form them into the adults they are
today.
Surviving him are his wife, Mary; son Scott and daughter Kathy Gover-Shaw
(Randy Shaw), grandchildren Blaine Shaw, Makenna Shaw, Justin Cogburn, Ty
Gover and Tristin Gover all of La Grande, granddaughter Rhande Shaw (Eric
Frasier) of Oregon City, brothers Dan (Joyce) Gover and George Gover and many
nieces and nephews. Proceeding Gary in death were his parents, Jr. and Helen
and his in-laws, Jake and Margaret Weber.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Pine Valley Fair Association or the La Grande American Legion Post #43 through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834.  Online condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com