Gary Allan Twigg

1950 - 2015

Longtime Alaska resident Gary "Trigger" Allan Twigg, 64, passed away on Jan. 16, 2015. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, at 5 p.m. at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Talkeetna, Alaska, with a reception after. An additional service will be held on Jan. 31, 2015, at 11 a.m. at the Palmer Masonic Lodge, 1022 South Cobb St. in Palmer, Alaska. There also will be A Celebration of Life on Trigger's birthday, May 20, 2015, in Talkeetna, location to be announced. Trigger was born on May 20, 1950, in Cumberland, Md. He graduated from Fort Hill High School in Maryland, and then served an apprenticeship with B&O Railroad. His job took him to Alaska in 1980, where he lived in Eagle River and worked for the Alaska Railroad. In 1988, he moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., which brought him many new opportunities, including working as a body guard, acting and managing a night club. In 1994, he moved to Talkeetna, building his dream home in the woods, with no road, running water or electricity. A jack-of-all-trades, he worked many different jobs including moving houses, construction and working for the Air Taxi service and as a hunting guide. He attended many churches of different denominations and was a member of the York Rite Masonic Order. Trigger was an avid mountaineer, summiting Denali in 1993, attempting a winter ascent of the Wickersham wall, the north face of Denali, in 1999, as well as many other climbing adventures in the Alaska Range. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter with a special passion for traditional bow hunting. "Trigger" was a unique man of contrasts, larger than life, storytelling-adventurer with a deep faith in God. He was imaginative, artistic and perseverant. "Never give up," was his motto and, "Carpe Diem," was how he lived. Trigger is survived by his wife, Margareth Burd Twigg of Talkeetna, Alaska; daughters, Margareth Allegany Twigg (8) of Talkeetna, Alaska, Kimberly ( Erik) Whetsel of Ridgeley, W.Va., Castira (Brien) Stanton of Hillsdale, Mich., and Virginia Twigg of Santa Barbara, Calif.; uncle and aunt, Charles and Bunny Hardy of Cumberland, Md.; and grandsons, Noah and Hayden Whetsel of Ridgeley, W.Va., and David Stanton of Hillsdale, Mich. He was preceded in death by parents, Virginia Hardy Twigg Smith and Edward Twigg; cousin, Jay Hardy; and grandparents, Charles and Hazel Hardy. Arrangements are under the direction of the Valley Funeral Home. You are invited to visit Trigger's on line guest book at www.AlaskanFuneral.com.