Gary GASH

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GASH: Gary William Gash passed away on February 14, 2012 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, with his sisters by his side. Born June 2, 1940, the second child of William and Margaret (Downey) Gash, Gary was raised on the family farm near Cordova, Manitoba. He attended a one-room school, Glenburney, for Grades One to Nine, then moved on to High School at Moore Park. Gary began farming at an early age seeding his first crop at age fifteen, while still in school. He worked hard, and eventually took over the farm from his parents. His keen business skills and carefully thought-out decisions served him well in being a lifelong grain farmer. He lived on the home quarter that his Grandfather, Thomas East Gash, had purchased from the North West Land Company in 1888, upon arriving from England at the age of nineteen. To earn extra money as a youngster Gary trapped. Later, he spent off-seasons away from the farm, working first at the Nickel Mines in Thompson, MB and afterwards at Oil Wells in Alberta and Saskatchewan. He then bought his first John Deere tractor, a “3020”. Gary took courses in Technical and Business Management through the Manitoba Department of Agriculture, obtaining a Farm Management Certificate in April, 1969. While studying these courses in Brandon, he made lasting friends with other farmers. Growing up, Gary enjoyed the usual country pastimes - horseback riding, skating on sloughs, sledding in a horse- drawn toboggan which he and his brother had made. His marksmanship was evident during hunting season. Although he was quiet by nature, Gary was a sociable person who enjoyed dancing, curling, snowmobiling, and visiting with friends and neighbours at fairs, parades, horse races, auction sales, or just over coffee. Some of his happiest times were when family visited and worked with him. Nieces and nephews have fond memories of the fun things they did with Uncle Gary. He was caring and generous. Gary was predeceased by his father, William, in 1971, and his mother Margaret in 2000. He is survived by sister Audrey (Finlay) McPherson, Lethbridge, AB; brother Dwight (Arnie) Okanagan Falls, BC; sister Janet (Brian) Lettley, Brandon, MB; nieces and nephews, Averill (Fab) McPherson Purpura, Calgary; Kirsty (Tim) Marritt (nee Gash), California; Michael (Sara) Gash and their children Olivia and Charlie, Williams Lake; Kristopher (Jan) Lettley and their children Ethan Lettley and Austin Humphreys, Brookdale; Brock (Lisa) McPherson, Calgary; Todd Lettley, Winnipeg; Curtis Lettley, Calgary. The funeral service to celebrate Gary's life was officiated by Rev. Natasha Pearen in Minnedosa United Church on February 22, 2012. Interment followed in the Minnedosa Cemetery. Arrangements were in care of Brockie Donovan Funeral Home, Brandon.

As published in Brandon Sun on Mar 10, 2012