Gary Robert Smith (2/17/1951-6/19/2024) passed at age 73 from Alzheimer's Disease after battling it for 13 years. He was born in Van Nuys, California, the second of four children to Robert and Lois Smith. He grew up in Southern California, graduated from Cal Poly Pamona with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture, and created his successful self-started business, Blue Sierra Landscape. While in Southern California, Gary pursued hobbies which included backpacking in the Sierras, dirt bike racing, gold prospecting, and he always had Brittany Spaniels.  He loved landscaping, but shortly after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Gary, Sharon (wife), and Chelsea (daughter), relocated to Redding, California, where they could enjoy a less hectic country lifestyle. Gary eventually made a career change and became a paving estimator. He continued his gold prospecting trips while in Redding, as well as landscaping side jobs. In 2011, after a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Gary and Sharon retired and moved to Albany, Oregon to be closer to Chelsea and her family. In Oregon, Gary still enjoyed hiking, fishing, gardening, and volunteering with Meals on Wheels until requiring more advanced care. Gary is predeceased by both of his parents, his younger brother, Brad, and his niece, Veronica.

Our family wishes to thank Waverly Place Memory Care for their dedicated and loving care of Gary for his final two years as well as the competent care by Evergreen Hospice.

He was always active, but Gary is finally at rest. Following his example, his family encourages post-mortem tissue donation to OHSU Alzheimer's Research.

There will be no public service. In leu of flowers, please consider planting a tree or spending time in nature as Gary always would.