Gary Asker

Charles “Gary” Asker, 89, recently of Imnaha and a longtime Lewiston resident, passed away January 26th, 2026 in Saint Alphonsus Hospital, Baker City Oregon, with his loving wife by his side. There will be a gathering for friends and family at the Elks lodge in Lewiston, Idaho on February 14th from 2 to 4 pm.  

Gary was born in Lewiston, Idaho on May 6th 1936 to Charles and Ann Asker. When Gary was five, they moved to the Asker family ranch 6 miles south of Cottonwood, Idaho.  Gary remained there until his high school graduation. He studied at the University of Idaho for one year until he was called home to help his parents on the ranch.  His parents sold the ranch and he returned to Lewiston where he met his first wife, Jeannie. They had two children, Terry and Joni. Gary and Jeannie later divorced. 

Gary spent a short time as a lineman for Idaho Light and Power, sometimes climbing the tall poles.  He went to work for Idaho First National Bank, starting as a teller and working up to Assistant Manager.  He eventually left banking to become a real estate agent for Ray J. White and Sons. While he spent a majority of his career at Ray J. White, he was also employed as a broker for D.A. Davidson for a few years, and finished his career at Century 21 Price Right.

In 1996, Gary met Mary, and they married on January 14th, 2000.  Together they built a life based on family, trips, adventures, laughter and good times. Gary was diagnosed with dementia in 2018. The disease slowly took its inevitable toll, but throughout those remaining years, there were many good times.

Gary loved music, classic cars, hosting family gatherings on the patio where he would cook his famous beer can chicken or a salmon with his special honey mustard sauce.  He was the perfect host, always making sure everyone’s glass and plate were full “Can I get you somethin’ ?”, he’d ask.  He wanted his guests to be happy and relaxed, always ready with a funny remark or a joke, often on himself about something he’d done. With very little coaxing, he would sing “If I were a rich man” from his favorite movie, Fiddler on the Roof. Or a few lines of “Oh how do I know my youth is all spent, my get-up and go has got-up and went.  But in spite of it all, I’m able to grin when I think of the places my get-up has been!”.  He didn’t just sing, he entertained, he performed, with dramatic gestures and facial expressions.  Gary could certainly lighten up a party.

Gary lived a long, happy life.  He was able to remain at home until the last few days of his life, and continued to gather new friends with his pleasant smile and kind eyes, gentle manner and gifted sense of humor.  The Alzheimer’s took most of his memory, but it couldn’t destroy the essence of the man: a nice guy whose first thought was always for those around him. He was truly one of a kind.

Gary was preceded in death by his mother and father, sister Carla, and brother Jimmy. 

He is survived by his wife Mary, at their home in Imnaha; son Terry of Bandon OR; daughter Joni, bonus son Justin Pilant (Tanya) Lewiston, bonus daughter Sheila Carrol (Phillip) of Seattle; nine grandchildren: Tasha, Aisha, D’ante, Yeva, Sophia, Alex, Nick, Michael, Orion, great-grandchildren; sister Tamara and numerous nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are under the direction of Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home. Condolences and tributes to Gary can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.