Gary Lee Marcelle Garred

Gary Lee Garred
1955-2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Gary Garred, December 20, 2020 at the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre. He slipped away peacefully with his wife Frances at his bedside. Gary will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Frances Schlag and his daughters, Jolene (Kevin) Williams, Tina (Cory) Heinricks, and his son Clayton Garred. He will also be fondly remembered by his six grandchildren, Brody Bulmer, Austin Bulmer, Torey Heinricks, Mona Heinricks, Donovan Garred, Theodore Garred and three step-grandchildren Deon Williams, Alexis Williams and Isabella Williams. Mourning his loss are his father John Garred, his six sisters Amy (Lawrence) Tychkowsky, Laura (Jim) Zabrick, Susan (John) Kastelen, Joanne (Eugene) Perepeletza, Karen (Blair) Everall, Audrey Johnson, and one brother Allan (Rita) Garred along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Gary was predeceased by his mother Jenny Garred in 1987, and one sister Colleen Sheppard in 2007.
Gary was born in Willingdon Hospital, Willingdon, Alberta on November 28, 1955 to Jenny and John Garred. He grew up on the family farm near Andrew and attended school in Andrew, Alberta, later attending WP Wagner High SchooI in Edmonton. Here he learned the Art of Cooking, Woodworking and Automotives. It was the Automotive classes where Gary found his true passion for tinkering around on anything that was mechanical. As a young boy his Dad said, "Gary was always taking things apart, putting things back together and growing up on the farm you had to fix things yourself." He would take his bike apart and see how he could make it go faster or give it a "cool" look, trying to invent or create things. He helped his Dad fixing the tractor, lawnmower, and vehicles. Gary was a do-it-yourself kind of guy. If he could not fix it then nobody could.

After graduating from WP Wagner in 1974, Gary worked different jobs and attended Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton where he studied Automotive Mechanics and achieved the standards established by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Board on December 17, 1980. After he completed his Apprenticeship in the trade of Motor Mechanic and received his certification, Gary fulfilled his dream and passion working for various automotive companies in Edmonton and finished his career as a Senior Automotive Technician at LA Mazda in Leduc, Alberta. He completed his Vehicle Inspection Technician's license and was always taking courses, upgrading his automotive skills as the new trucks and cars changed over the span of his 40 years in the automotive industry.

Gary mentored younger mechanics, who were apprenticing, teaching them the old tricks of diagnosing and analyzing vehicles when some of the new technology didn't work properly. He also dabbled in doing landscaping, repairing lawnmowers, truck driving and working in his own garage doing what he loved most, fixing vehicles of all types.

Gary had a great love for the outdoors, boating, fishing, camping, snowmobiling, and quadding. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, teaching them how to fish, what the best hook was to use to catch that "BIG" one. Cleaning the fish and cooking them was always the best part. He loved to teach his grandchildren how to drive a boat, later sitting by the campfire making popcorn and s’mores.

Gary's love for his children and grandchildren was also expressed to the love of his life Frances. After five years of sharing their love and lives together, Frances was blessed to be at Gary's bedside in his final hour. It was this final message of how Blessed Gary was:
"I am posting this message on Gary's page as it will be the final words from Gary and Frances and all those who have reached out and been a part of Gary and Frances' family and friendship circles. I personally thank you all for your kind words and prayers. My Gary was a wonderful man who had a big heart. He loved his children and grandchildren dearly. As I held his hand and hugged him close to my heart, kissed him gently, as we looked into each other's eyes and told him softly, "Gary, do you want to go home?" He said, "Yes" I said, "Let's go home together." He whispered, "Ok, I Love You." I whispered softly in his ear, "I Love You Honey, you are not alone, let's go home together. God is waiting for you, the angels will take you. I love you to the moon and back." I kissed him on the forehead and held him in my arms and said The Lord's Prayer to Gary. Gary looked at me with his eyes wide open as tears streamed from his eyes and he said, "I Love You", then he took his last breath and died peacefully in my arms. My Gary was gone to Heaven and peace filled the room. God took my Gary home. 

Thank you to all the Doctors, nurses, Home Care nurses, OT, the paramedics, the hospice nurse and Wetaskiwin Hospital Emergency staff. Words cannot express how grateful I am for their assistance especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you to everyone who have phoned me, texted and shared their support and kind words. Time will heal the grieving and I have been prepared for a long time as God has given me the strength to carry me through this difficult journey. My faith, my family and dear friends have been with me every step of my journey with Gary. Thank you all sincerely, from Frances"

A Celebration of Gary's life will be announced at a later date, when we are safely able to come together. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wetaskiwin Health Foundation, 6910 - 47 Street, Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 3N3.

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