Gary Grant Major

1936 - 2025

Gary Grant Major

June 14, 1936 - November 5, 2025

Gary Grant Major, 89, a resident of Gooding, passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2025, at The North Canyon Medical Center in Gooding.

Gary Grant Major was born on June 14, 1936, in Port Angeles, Wash. the son of William Grant Major and Martha Ella Wolfe Major. He was raised and educated in Vancouver, Wash.

Gary was born on the Washington coast and raised in Vancouver, Wash., where he fell in love with swimming, singing, crossword puzzles, clam digging and fishing. He overcame stuttering by learning to sing and became a champion swimmer. He graduated from Vancouver High School, earned his bachelor's degree from Linfield College, and his master's degrees from Berkley Baptist School of Theology and Oregon State University. He reveled in remembering all kinds of stories from his youth, whether plummeting his car off a cliff driving up Mount Hood or swimming across the Columbia River (He survived both feats)!

Gary married Claire Louise Slaughter on June 19, 1965, in Kimberly, Idaho.

Gary loved to see new places, eat new foods, and make new friends. He loved good mischief, a good drink, and a good gathering with family and friends. With a zest for life and adventure, Gary traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East on a Vespa scooter. He settled in Twin Falls in 1963 and moved to Gooding in 1964. He met a fellow explorer in a Kimberly native, Claire Slaughter. Their mutual love of travel connected this rebel with a strait-laced lady, and he married Claire in 1965 (he had to jump fast). In Gooding, they raised three sons: Marshall, Mitch, and Matt. For over 30 years, he served at the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) as a guidance counselor where his compassion, patience, and wit impacted countless lives of students and friends. He never knew a stranger. During his lunches at CSI, he could be found scouring the Times News cover to cover, from sports to crossword puzzles to the classifieds.

Gary enjoyed going out to breakfast with anyone and everyone and acquiring treasures at garage sales. He eventually bought so many "treasures" that he and Claire opened a used furniture store, Gooding New and Used, where his children "enjoyed" supporting the family business!

After a lengthy career at CSI, Gary devoted his time to woodworking, world travel, eating breakfast out, and serving the Gooding Public Library District as a trustee, forever valuing the written word and community work. Hand in hand, he and Claire visited every continent and shared their love of stories, culture, and travel with family. From bumping across Europe on a Vespa in the early '60s to voyaging on cruises as recently as this past summer, the travel accommodations improved, but the wanderlust never wavered. He had a knack for finding joy and something to sing about in every situation! As a man who valued words, his "I love you" will be cherished most of all by those he leaves behind.

Gary is survived by Claire, his wife of 60 years; three sons, Marshall (Leslie) of Meridian, Idaho, Mitch (Erin) of Kernersville, N.C. and Matt of Pflugerville, Texas; one brother, John Major of Belgrade, Mont.; six grandchildren: Marshall and Leslie - Kade (Adryanna), Chase (Chelsea), Keera, Mitch and Erin - Ben, Alexandra, Matt – Wyatt.

Gary is preceded in death by: his parents, William Grant Major and Martha Ella Wolfe Olson; and his brother, Richard Olson.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Gooding United Methodist Church in Gooding, with Pastor Amanda Gayle Reed officiating. Services will conclude at the Church.

Funeral and cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service – Gooding Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gooding Public Library District, 306 5th Ave. West, Gooding, ID 83330.

Condolences, memories and photos can be shared with the family by following the obituary link at www.demarayfuneralservice.com.