Gary Pinard

Gary Alan Pinard, age 61, died on May 26th, 2014. He was born on April 10th, 1953, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Paul Emile and Dorothy Ilene (Peterson) Pinard. Gary was the kind of guy Alaska used to spawn. He built his own cabins, logged his own wood, fixed equipment, trained and packed horses, out-walked and out-climbed Dall sheep, and wrote some pretty good poetry. An accomplished artist, Gary also had a long career as a big game guide. In the 1970's he worked for Keith Specking, Alaska's third master guide, out of the Alaska Adventures camp at Brushkana River, on the Denali Highway later taking over Keith's guide area. Some of the best times Gary's former wife, artist Shannon Cartwright remembers were "camping next to a clear stream, climbing high, catching fish, cooking dinner over a willow fire, and picking blueberries for dessert, while the ponies grazed nearby. He had a spiritual, intuitive connection to the land and animals. This connection is what made his many wood carvings so powerfully beautiful."

In 2010, Gary began a new chapter of his life with Barbara Vaughan Bailey, who soon joined him at his Brushkana home. During his fight with sarcoma, they settled in White Salmon, Washington, where he died with Barbara and his family at his side.

Gary loved living simply and symbiotically with nature, and lived most of his life off-grid. His extraordinary carvings can be seen in homes across Alaska and beyond. He knew the Brooks Range in ways few but local Native people do. Gary's creativity was boundless, and he generously served as guide, mentor, and poet to many.

Gary is survived by his loving partner, Barbara, and their canine companion, Ella; his siblings, Paul Edward Pinard, Sonia (Turi) DiGregorio, Sharman Kilborn, Karen Janisch-Pinard (Scott Janisch), Tina (Craig) Lewis, Randal Pinard, Kenneth Pinard, and Jon (Rachel) Pinard; his former wife, Shannon Cartwright; twenty three nieces and nephews, as well as Vera (Vaughan) Specking, Joan Specking (Ed Bender), Glenn (Teri) Specking, and beloved friends around the world whom Gary counted as family.

Services will be held in White Salmon and in Alaska. Gary asked that any gifts in his honor be made to Heifer International, supporting his values of self-reliance and sharing.