Passing: Gary Pugh

Gary Pugh

A couple of weeks ago, the island was saddened to hear that Gary Pugh passed away in Bellingham…here’s more, from his family:

With family and friends present, Gary passed away January 14, 2012 in Whatcom Hospice House, Bellingham.

He was born June 26, 1960 in Coshocton, Ohio and raised in Big Sur, California, until the age of 13, when he and his family moved to Friday Harbor in 1973.

He spent most of the rest of his life here. Commercial fishing and building construction workers were his working endeavors.

He often spent partial winters in Mexico and partial summers fishing in Alaska. In years when salmon was plentiful, he smoked much of the fish he caught locally and gifted or traded it.

Without any formal training, Gary became a skilled master of many art forms. He had an innate sense of aesthetics and design. Combined with his fertile imagination and boundless energy, he was a very inspired artist.

He sculpted, carved, forged and assembled objects, working with an array of found materials, including stone, wood, metals, glass, ceramics, animal skins, fibers, shells, beads, ivory and bone.

He delighted all with art that ranged from jewelry to large totems and mosaic pieces. He liked to collect art of indigenous cultures, especially weavings.

Starting at a young age, Gary also became skilled at building small homes and shelters. Usually using quality recycled materials, new forms and functions would come to life. He was a visionary when it came to the relationship between matter and space it occupied.

Loving the outdoors, Gary spent most of his time in fresh air, be it on water, or relaxing by an open fire at night, often in the company of one or more friends. He most often cooked his food outside all year round. Fire was an important part of Gary’s life.

No doubt when we remember Gary, a perfectly timed, unrehearsed, entertaining moment will come to mind and duly reminded of his quick wit and “jest” for life and smile.

Gary is preceded in death by his mother Pat, and sisters Anita and Branwen.

He is survived by his father Ernest (Anne), sisters Roberta, Angie, Gina, Canice, and stepsister Maggie; brothers Kevin (Kathi), Buck (Doreen), Nathan & Owen, and by his former wife Jen, 16 nieces & nephews, six great nieces & nephews, his very special Aunt Joan, and all of her clan.

Being the magnetic personality he was, Gary leaves behind a lifetime of wonderful friends.

Gary’s family would like to thank his good friends Penny, Kelly, Boo Boo, Celia, Lynne, Chuck, Craig, Rhonda, Lisa & Steve for “being there,” especially during this last year, with very much gratitude for the San Juan Island EMTs and Whatcom Hospice House.

A celebration of Gary’s life will be planned for this summer. As Gary would say, “All is good.”

“For many blessings fate fleetingly engenders, with which eternity, child of time, gives final completeness.”

– from the family of Gary Pugh

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