Gary Lee Templeton

Gary Lee Templeton was born on October 2, 1939 in Maquoketa, Iowa. He was the sixth of 10 children born to Kent Bertrand Templeton and Laneta Hute Templeton. Gary joined the United States Air Force at 17. His first assignment after basic training was at Fairchild Air Force Base, where he was a fuel system specialist.

During this time, Gary also worked part-time at Cloud Skating Rink in the valley, which is where he met his future wife, Denise Marie Laos. From Fairchild, they were transferred to Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington. Children Jeff, Jan and Scott were born there. After Moses Lake, Gary spent 15 months in Goose Bay, Labrador. Thanks to leave time, Greg was born in Spokane at Fairchild, where the family had stayed while Gary was away. From there the family was off to Castle Air Force Base in California, where Chris was born. Next was Athens, Greece followed by Abilene, Texas. During the Vietnam conflict, the family returned to Spokane while Gary went to Guam and then Thailand (another 15 months). After he returned, it was off to Panama City, Florida, then Bitburg, Germany, and finally back to Fairchild where Gary decided to retire before another remote assignment happened.

During his Air Force career Gary was an avid skeet, trap and pistol shooter.  He was quite fond of the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. In his later years, Gary took up golf and became an insatiable collector of golf equipment. He loved tools and could fix anything.

Son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and great, great grandfather, Gary was proceeded in death by his parents, six siblings and two sons, Chris and Jeff. He is survived by his wife, Denise, three children, Jan (Don), Scott (Deborah) and Greg (Kelli), eight grandchildren, Jason (Jen), Steven (Amy), Kara (Briel), Nolan, Kaden, Zane, Brysen, Hailee, step grandchildren David and Brittney, great grandchildren Ethan (Nadia), Kaylie, Kaitlyn, Vander, Keagan, Mya, Grace, Daniel, Elianna and Raelynn, and two great, great grandchildren, Nerraw and Gracen. Three siblings, Judy, Larry (Deb) and Lee also survive.

Memorial date is tentatively scheduled for October 9th at noon, but may shift due to complications with the wildfires.