Gary Warren Campbell came into this world on June 16,1938 with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He was born in a small house in Jerome, Idaho, and Gary always told people he was born there because that’s where his mother was, and he loved his mother and wanted to be with her.

In the 1950’s, Gary’s parents moved to Palmer, Alaska, where they had a dairy farm, and Gary had to do a lot of work on the farm. He always said he hated cows even though he later owned a milk cow while raising his own family. Of course, he made his own kids do the work. Speaking of the family milk cow, Gary loved to tell the story about the day he came home to find the family cow drunk. As the story goes, they threw away the grape mash from where they had made grape juice, and the mash sat in the trash for a while until it had fermented. Unbeknownst to the family, the cow had a feast on the fermented mash. By the time Gary arrived home from work, he noticed the cow staggering as she walked, and he wondered what was wrong with her. When he saw her mouth stained with purple, and the mess on the ground where the mash had been thrown out, it didn’t take long to realize their cow was drunk. For three days, the family cow produced the prettiest purple milk anyone ever saw and the pigs loved it!

Gary loved Alaska and often talked about the many things he enjoyed in this great state. He talked about how one winter they took the hood off the car and used it as a sled. They had a great time, but when they went to put the hood back on the car, it wouldn’t fit. I wonder whose idea this was?

Gary went to high school in Anchorage, Alaska, where he learned to play the clarinet and was in the marching band. Sometime after high school, Gary decided to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was called to serve in the Southern Australian Mission. He loved his mission and serving the people there, but he always said the best part of his mission was meeting the lovely sister missionary, Velma Nilsson. One could say it was love at first sight. They both just knew after meeting that they were meant to be together, and after they both had returned home from their missions, they were sealed together for time and all eternity in February of 1963 in the Idaho Falls, Idaho, Temple.

After Gary and Velma were married, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, to set up home and soon, Velma became pregnant with their first child, Rodney Clifford Campbell. As the story goes, Rodney was due right around the time of the big earthquake which happened on March 27, 1964, but decided not to come until after the earthquake. He was the first baby to be born in the Anchorage hospital after the earthquake, and as Gary tells the story, “Rodney didn’t want to come out because there was too much shaking going on.”

Throughout Gary’s life, regardless of the hardships or trials, he was always optimistic, fun, and loved to laugh. He had a deep love for his Savior, Jesus Christ, and a deep love for all of his family. He loved traveling and he loved the great outdoors which included camping, hunting, and fishing.

Gary was a very hard-working man who held down many jobs over his lifetime, sometimes two and three jobs at the same time. He worked for the Post Register newspaper in Idaho Falls and the Tri-City Herald newspaper in Kennewick Washington, the USPS in Shelley Idaho, farming in Washington, and many other jobs as necessary to help support his family. After Gary retired, He and Velma moved to Newport, WA where they spent the remaining years of their lives.

Gary had many callings in the church including executive secretary to the bishop, but his most favorite calling was when he a Velma served as workers in the Columbia River Temple and the Spokane Temple.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, William Rodney Campbell and Mildred Hazel Pettingill, by his beautiful wife, Velma Nilsson, Son Dennis Ray, Grandson Gary Boyle, and Great Grandson Holden Boyle. Gary is survived by his children, Rodney Campbell (Bobbi), Sheryl Rhodes (Rick), Keith Campbell (Cindy), bonus daughter Kathy McGuire (Doug) who lived with Gary and Velma for a few years, and became part of their family. His Grandchildren, Ethan Campbell (Callie), Sean Campbell, Isaiah Campbell, Miranda Anderson (Ethan), Carly Campbell, Ashley Boyle, TJ Boyle, Mandee Zyph (Matt), Emily Boyle, Rolisha Rhodes, Isaac Weed, Kailena Ransom (Chris), Will Weed IV. His brothers: Bill Campbell (Karen), Dennis Campbell (Irene), and Clifford Campbell.

Gary had a big heart, worked hard, and loved everyone. He loved to laugh and he loved telling stories to make others laugh. He really enjoyed the “Pickles” comic strip and would often comment on how “Grandpa Earl” was him. Even at the end of his life, when he saw you coming to visit, he would give you a big smile and was excited to share another story with you. He is very loved by so many and will be greatly missed! We know he is with Velma and his other family members on the other side of the veil. From his endless chuckles over Grandpa Earl’s antics to the way he lit up every room with a story, Gary reminded us all that the best way to live is with a big heart, a quick laugh, and one more tale left to tell—until we meet again on the other side!

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 21st at 11AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Priest River, ID. Interment will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery in Shelley, ID on Thursday, July 23rd at 11AM.

Sherman-Campbell Funeral Home in Newport, WA is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at Sherman- campbell.com.

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