Gary Eldon Phelps passed away suddenly from a heart attack July 22, 2014. He was born in Olympia, Wash. on Nov. 27, 1939. Gary graduated from Olympia High School with the class of 1958. He joined the Navy and spent a year in Kodiak, Alaska, then served on the USS Rochester and USS McKean touring the Pacific. After leaving the Navy, he and his wife settled in Auburn, Wash.
Gary graduated from St. Martin’s College with a degree in Education and started his teaching career as a kindergarten teacher in Oakville. He then began teaching fourth grade in Onalaska and later retired after 17 years in the district. Gary also served on the Rochester School Board for several years.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Andrea; two children, Todd (Brandy) Phelps and Bethany Phelps; five grandchildren, Jaymi Phelps, Michael Ready, Aaron Carlson, Izzabella Phelps and Elizabeth Phelps; and his sister, Roberta Stanford.
Gary’s greatest passion was Bluegrass music. He was a past president of the Washington Bluegrass Association. He played the fiddle with the Lewis County Pickers and other bands. Gary was often seen sporting the t-shirt of the latest bluegrass festival that he had attended. Gary also enjoyed working on the family property, tending to the timber and the land and replanting trees for the future. He also loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, crabbing and digging clams.
Gary was very active in his grandchildren’s lives. He devoted his weekends to following his granddaughters softball teams and was a regular volunteer at their schools.
A celebration of life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28, 2014 at the Swede Hall, 18543 Albany St., Rochester, WA 98579.
