Gary F. Thompson, 72, of Albany passed away Monday at Samaritan Albany General Hospital.

He was born in Dos Palos, CA. the only child of Edward F. and Olga V. (Mecchi) Thompson. He was raised in Dos Palos and attended schools there graduating from high school in 1957. He married Jenny Wareham in Dos Palos in 1961 and they divorced in 1981. In 1998 Gary married Carol L. Yates in Las Vegas, NV. They lived in Clovis, CA., moving to Grants Pass, OR. in 2001 and then came to Albany in 2004 and have been here since that time. Gary worked as a carpenter before becoming an electrician and owned Granite Electric for 20 years retiring in 1987. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying deer hunting, duck hunting, fly fishing, woodworking, carpentry, and building model air planes.
Gary had been a member of the Grants Pass Elks lodge and a 4-H leader for 7 years.

He is survived by his wife Carol Thompson of Albany, daughter Mindy Hamlin and her husband Ken Abbott of Corvallis, son Sean Thompson and wife Jan of Philomath, step-son David Yates and wife Christine and step-daughter Cheryl and husband Richard Perry all of Clovis, CA. and five grandchildren: Ian Hamlin of Corvallis, Caitlin, Allison and Noah Perry and Savannah Yates, all of Clovis, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and sent in care of the funeral home. A Celebration of his life will be held at a later date. AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. ( www.aasum-dufour.com )