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Gary Parker was 48 years old at
the time of his passing.
He was born and raised in
Pocatello, Idaho. Gary
loved animals, hiking, kayaking,
and gardening. As a
teenager, he had a boa
constrictor that was 10-15 feet
long and he took in a pair of
rescued desert tortoises that
were approaching 100 years old.
He studied natural resources
conservation in college at Idaho
State University, and ran a
martial arts studio for a while
right around that time. He
was a member of the Bonner
County Master Gardeners. He
worked for approximately 20
years for Idaho State Parks,
spending time at Harriman,
Farragut, and Round Lake State
Parks as a Park Ranger. He
spent the last 3 years with the
Bonner Soil and Water
Conservation District, where he
launched the Pend Oreille
Lake*A*Syst Program.
During that time, he reached 200
shoreline landowners with LAS
materials and worked with the
City of Sandpoint and Indigo
Nursery to install a Best
Management Practice
demonstration site at Memorial
Park Boat Launch (stormwater
swales and 600 feet of riparian
plantings that now have
interpretive signs).
Gary Scott Parker
November 14, 2008 - June 20,
2008
Gary was widely
admired in the Sandpoint
community. His knowledge
and passion will be remembered
by many. Gary's efforts to
grow and support local food
sources, protect Lake Pend
Oreille, and facilitate
partnerships were fruitful and
full of purpose. He will
be fondly remembered as the face
of "Lake*A*Syst," a shoreline
stewardship program on Lake Pend
Oreille, as well as a
knowledgeable guru at the local
Farmer's Market. He
expended efforts far and wide to
protect the natural resources of
our community, of our region,
and even of our planet.
Gary was a
friend, ally, colleague of many,
and an excellent man.
Always up for a paddle in the
kayak, a tour of the garden, a
walk in the park, a favor or
two, Gary was much loved and
will be missed dearly.
Next time you
are poring over your garden
literature, walking through the
lush underbrush, contemplating
the growth of your organic
greens, speculating on the
ripeness of your blackberries,
smelling a wild rose, strolling
the walks of the local market,
or trying to spread the good
word of conservation, remember
Gary. Remember Gary in his
kindness and sincerity, in his
generosity and consistence, and
in peace.
Eulogy written by Kate Wilson and
Jamie Davis |
