Sandy resident, Garry Dean White was born on his grandfather’s farm near Lynch, Nebraska to John and Helen White on April 28, 1936. At the age of three, his parents divorced and Garry went to live with his grandparents, Ray and Kate Long. He attended grade school at a small county school and completed high school at Lynch Public School. Shortly after graduation, Garry joined the U.S. Air Force and began a career as an aircraft mechanic that lasted 21 years and included duty assignments in many countries around the world.
Garry married Marie Richardson in 1956. Together they had three children; Debora, Selena and Joel. They divorced in 1973. In 1975, Garry retired from the Air Force and moved to Sandy. In 1976, he met and married Phyllis Williams and they made their home in Sandy. Phyllis had four children from a previous marriage; Ron, Roger, Glenda and Diane. Garry operated a shop in Troutdale that manufactured and repaired engines for a factory that produced portable saw mills. In 1988, Garry retired and he and Phyllis moved to Bend. They spent their retirement years traveling, camping, fishing and enjoying a rather large family. In 2000, they moved back to Sandy to be closer to family. For many years, the couple spent the winters in Yuma, Arizona and summers in Oregon.
Garry is survived by; wife Phyllis; children Debora, Selena and Joel; step children Ron, Roger, Glenda and Diane; 16 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and another great grandchild, Rylan Dean to be born in February.
A Memorial Service was held at Sandy Funeral Home on Monday, November 9, 2015 at 12:00 p.m.