Gary Gregg

Gary Gregg, 91, of John Day, died Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at Blue Mountain Hospital surrounded by his family. A graveside service will be held Friday, December 9, 2022~ 1 p.m. at the Dayville Cemetery in Dayville, Oregon.

Gary was born September 5, 1931 in Bend, Oregon.  He spent most of his childhood growing up on Holmes Creek in Kimberly, OR and completed his education in Monument, OR.

Gary joined the Navy on January 10th 1951. He was stationed in Kodiak Alaska, Woodby Island in Seattle WA, Treasure Island in San Francisco, CA and Iwakuni Japan where he became a propeller mechanic.  He took his role a U.S. Veteran very proudly and seriously. He would sit for hours and talk about his life experience and passions with whomever had time to listen.  

Gary met LoLieta “Babe” Craig when he was home from the Navy. They were married July 1st, 1956.

Gary attended college at Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls, OR where he majored in diesel technology and earned his associates degree in arts and science.   Gary competed in the Intercollegiate Rodeo circuit. He won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo in 1959 in the bronc riding event.

After graduating college, Gary and LoLieta moved to Fossil, OR where he worked for the Kinzua Corp.  They moved to Prairie City in 1962 and then to John Day in 1963 where he worked for Western Equipment company and drove chip truck.  Gary then purchased a 1957 Peterbilt and spent the next 40 plus years driving a log truck. He kept the cleanest log truck in the county!

After retiring from the logging business, Gary began making horse drawn Buggies.  He was a perfectionist in everything he built.  He was known to participate in numerous parades in Grant County and Pendleton with his horse drawn buggy and his beloved horse “Heather”.  He also delivered the Blue Mountain Eagle Newspaper for many years.

Throughout the years, Gary participated in several community events.  He was a longtime member of the Oregon Log Truck Association and participated in the Timber Truckers light parade for many years.

He was passionate about the rodeo.  He judged the Bronc riding event for many years at the Grant County Fair and was a member of the Ranch and Rodeo Museum where he volunteered many hours of his time.  He was also a member of the Grant County Air Search and Rescue, a member of the John Day Elks Club for 55 years and active with studying Genealogy.

Gary looked forward to watching the many hours of the NFR every year and made this a priority! He adored old country music, especially the sound of a steel guitar.

He enjoyed playing solitaire, taking long drives in the woods, and sitting by the pond and watching the deer and birds.  He also liked working on restoring a 1964 Jeep Willy’s, building a scale model USS Missouri BattleShip and flying his remote control drone.

Gary was a hardworking man who gave everything 1000%. He was proud of the home and family he and Babe built together. To him, there was no such thing as a stranger. He was the best husband, father and grandfather anyone could ask for; he loved and stood by his family no matter what.

Gary was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years LoLieta Gregg; parents Hap and Dorothy Gregg; brother Gerold “Lee” Gregg.

He is survived by his children Shannon (Chris) Bravos, Mindy (Mike) Alley, Mitch (Janet Plocharski) Gregg; brother Gibb Gregg; grandchildren Amanda Couzins, Jeff Lippert, Britt Wilcox, Riley Gregg; great grandchildren Aura Wilcox, Jenna Kelso, Ryan Lippert and Shelby Couzins.

For those who would like to make a memorial contribution in honor of Gary the family requests either the Ranch and Rodeo Museum, Carrie Young Memorial, the John Day Elks Lodge or the John Day Air Search and Rescue through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, PO Box 543, Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com