Gary L. Graves' Obituary
Gary L. Graves, 82, of Warren, Oregon, passed away peacefully at home on April 24, 2026, with his beloved wife, Sharon, by his side. He was born on July 27, 1943, in Salem, Oregon, to Nettie (Edwards) and Avery L. Graves.
Gary was the third of six children and spent his early years in PeeDee, Independence, Dallas, Amity, and McMinnville, Oregon, before his family settled near Youngs Bay outside of Astoria, where they operated a dairy farm. From a young age, he developed a strong work ethic and took pride in his involvement in 4-H, showing his Jersey cattle at the county fair and, in his junior year, earning Grand Champion at the Oregon State Fair.
He graduated from Astoria High School in 1961 and went on to attend Oregon State University before an illness interrupted his studies. He also served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969 as a section sergeant and sharpshooter. Gary began his career working on tugboats along the Columbia River.
Gary was previously married and welcomed two daughters, Gayle Lee in 1967 and Cara Lee in 1969. He enjoyed spending time with them outdoors, especially camping, fishing, and traveling throughout Oregon.
Gary built a remarkable and diverse career defined by hard work, skill, and leadership. Over the years, he worked in the tugboat and logging industries, at plywood manufacturing plants, and in commercial fishing. He spent 15 years with Multnomah Plywood in St. Helens, where he rose to Green-End Superintendent and served on the Board of Directors, including three years as Vice President.
In the mid-1990s, Gary partnered in establishing a large-scale farming operation in northern Nevada, producing thousands of acres of alfalfa and operating G & L Cubing. He retired in 1999 after a lifetime of industrious work across multiple fields.
In addition to his primary careers, Gary was a dedicated commercial fisherman for over three decades, fishing the Columbia River and later in Kenai, Alaska.
Gary married Sharon on May 18, 1991, and together they built a life filled with travel, family, and shared experiences. They visited Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Arizona, and many of the nation’s most treasured landmarks, including the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Canyonlands, and Yellowstone.
Gary took great pride in everything he built, including the home he constructed in Warren in 1979 and a second home he later built in Yuma, Arizona.
Gary had a deep appreciation for the outdoors. He especially enjoyed fishing, golfing, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. He was a familiar face at gatherings in St. Helens and Yuma and was an avid supporter of Oregon State University athletics.
Gary will be remembered for his strong work ethic, resilience, and willingness to help others. He approached life with determination and took pride in doing things the right way.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Linda; his brothers, Tom and Mike; and his former wife, Iona.
Gary is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Graves; his daughters, Gayle Johnston and Cara (Joel) Simpson; and stepchildren, Kenneth (Cheryl) Green and Kelley Parsons; his grandchildren, Cory Simpson, Jeremy Simpson, Tanita Bozkurt, Shantel Johnston, Jacob Parsons, Justin Parsons, Anna Parsons, Lucas Green, Sydney Green, and Brandon Sailer; six great-grandchildren; his siblings, Lana Elliot and Dennis Graves; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
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