Gary Ralph Gilligan

Gary Ralph Gilligan, 69, went on to paradise June 2, 2015 in Yakima, WA after a courageous battle with cancer; he fought the good fight! He was born on July 20, 1945 in Portland, OR to Roland and Helen (formerly Franzen) Gilligan.

Gary proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1968, during which he was married to his first love, Becky. She gave him his two beautiful daughters Laura and Lisa. In 1993, he married his second wife and “the other part of him” Connie Jo Shoemaker on the beach in Lincoln City, Oregon. He drove long haul trucks for U.P.S. retiring after over 30 years’ service with the company.

Gary had a magnetic personality and was a Godly man. He was always looking for ways to bless those who were in need. Gary was a man of high integrity and values with an overflowing love for family and Jesus Christ. His charitable heart compelled him to collect items and save them for that special person who might need them someday. His generosity exceeded beyond family to the needs of others as well as to his four legged furry friends! He loved his family and cared for them deeply. He had a wonderful sense of humor, full of antics and jokes, which he carried over into after his passing. Even after his death, the family is finding precious notes and jokes that he had “planted” in documents, helping them to laugh through their tears. His passion and hobby was rebuilding classic cars with his brothers, but he also had an appreciation for the finer things: antiques, old movies, music and painting. He enjoyed singing in church with his beloved girls. The family will treasure his selfless love and memories forever.

He is survived by his loving wife Connie; former wife Becky (Joe) Schweitzer; daughters Laura (Don) Crouse and Lisa (Chris) Cruse; step-daughters Tracey Miller and Dana (Mike) Haberman; step-sons James Sewell II, Stephen (Stacy) Sewell and Michael Boner; 6 grandchildren and 6 step-grandchildren; sister Patricia (Ron) Perry; brothers Dick Gilligan, Tom Gilligan, Paul (Linda) Gilligan and John Gilligan; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland and Helen Gilligan.

Inurnment will be at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, WA on ¬¬Thursday, June 18th, 2015 at 3:00 pm. A celebration of his life will be held, Friday, June 19th, 2015 at 1:00 pm at the Mercer Creek Church.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the cancer clinic North Star Lodge: 808 North 39th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902 (877) 902-3324 https://nc.memfound.org/nsl/keepsupportlocal: the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310 White Plains, NY 10605 Phone: (914) 949-5213 https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate; and/or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research : 1100 Fairview Ave N Seattle, WA 98109 (206) 667-5000 https://secure2.convio.net/fhcrc/site/Donation2?df_id=5980&5980.donation=form1&s_src=web&s_subsrc=aegf0. Condolences for the family can be left at www.steward-williams.com.