Gary Marshall O'Hara

Gary Marshall O’Hara passed away on October 25th at his home in Meridian, Idaho. He was 88 years old. An avid lover of stories, Gary would listen with the same care and attention as he put into his own, and he could recall stories from his life with such clarity and detail that it seemed as though he was reliving them all over again.  

Born in Scoby, Montana on February 3, 1935, Gary was adopted shortly after birth to Patrick and Marjorie O’Hara and spent the early years of his life on a ranch in Phillipsburg, MT. Gary would not come to know his biological family for 60 years when his wife, Margaret, would have a chance encounter at a bank with someone who was familiar with Gary’s biological family. Raised as an only child, Gary suddenly had the siblings he had always dreamed of having.  

Gary’s family eventually moved to East Missoula where he attended school and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1953. In the last two summers of high school, he worked for the Forest Service as a lookout for forest fires. Although a lonely job on top of a mountain, Gary fondly recalled encounters with bears or lying outside on warm summer nights staring at the stars in the big Montana sky. 

After high school, Gary went to work in the lumber industry where he became a lumber grader. It was also at this time that he met, courted, and married the love of his life, Margaret Mead of Alberton, MT. They were married in 1956 and proceeded to have six daughters in an eight-year span of time. His job eventually took the family to Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho and then to Roseburg and Crescent, Oregon where he retired from the lumber industry.   
In retirement, Gary and Margaret lived in Aurora, Missouri to be near Gary’s biological brother and later to Meridian to be near family. An avid card player, Gary loved and valued his time and friendships as a regular pinochle player at the Meridian Senior Center. He was also devoted to his church and to his core Christian values. The family would like to extend its deepest appreciation to the people at the Meridian Senior Center and Meridian First Baptist Church—you were his family, too.   
Gary is survived by his wife of 67 years, Margaret, his six daughters: Rhonda, Michelle, Natalie, Kathryn, Patty and Lois, thirteen grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held at Meridian First Baptist Church on November 4th at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the mission’s fund at Meridian First Baptist Church.