Gary Wentworth

Gary Wentworth, 73, died March 20, 2022 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, ID with his wife and family at his side.  There will be a celebration of his life at a later date.

Gary was born in Ashland, OR on November 21, 1948 to Norman and Viva (Matteson) Wentworth and was one of three brothers.  He attended school in Ashland before the family moved to Southern California where he continued his education and held several jobs before he hired on with Maas Hansen Steel, where he learned to drive trucks and do maintenance.  This led to a career as a millwright.  He married Roberta (Bobi) Mordel and they had a son, Cliff.  He later married Laura McCoy.  In 1980 he moved to Oregon, but returned to California where he started his own millwright business.  In 1992 he moved to Ohio where he hired on with Unimast to set up new steel plants.  They later transferred him to Texas.  In 1996, he moved back to Oregon and started his own millwright business in Bend.  In 2004 he moved to Baker City after meeting his future wife, Linda, in an online chat room.  He went to work for Louie and Donny Tholen at Farm & Industrial where he was an ace fabricator until his retirement in 2019.

Gary was an avid hunter, loved to cook for guided hunting parties, and was heavily involved in the Oregon Hunters Association and served as its president while with the Bend chapter.  He volunteered his skills as a machinist to run the antique sawmill at the High Desert Museum when he lived in Bend.  He was a member of Elkhorn Muzzle Loaders Club and the Powder River Sportsmen’s Club and was a proficient shooting enthusiast.

Favorite pastimes were camping with his family (especially making them fabulous breakfasts), whittling/carving and teaching the grandkids camping skills, drives in the mountains, reading, creating useful furniture, tools, fold-up tables, etc.  He loved his dog friends Kirby and Sadie; they were included in most of his adventures.  Gary was a big guy with a big heart, generous and caring, with the adoration of his children and grandchildren being a testimony to his loving nature.  He loved living in Baker County and is leaving many friends.

Gary is survived by his wife, Linda Evans Wentworth; his son Cliff Wentworth (Heather) of Bend, OR; mother in law Myrna Evans of Baker City, OR; stepchildren Jarond Browning (Lexie) of Vale, OR, Tricia Price (Paul) and Aimie Shepherd of Baker City, OR and Matthew Shepherd (Rebecca) of Fruitland, ID; and his brother Tom Wentworth (Evelyn) of Bend, OR; sister in laws Diana (Paul) York of Lagrande, OR and Eileen Lewis of Oregon City, OR; He has 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with another one on the way in July.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brother David and his father in law Lloyd Evans.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the charity of one’s choice through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.  Online condolences may be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.