Gary Grant Stanfield

1940 - 2009

Gary Grant Stanfield

Gary died on November 18th, 2009. He was an artist, consummate storyteller, humorist, Seabee, builder, custodial manager, sculpture aide, and gunsmith. He loved his children, parents, and grandchildren, he loved his friends, and he loved his dogs. Proud of his Scottish ancestors, he relished sharing humorous anecdotes about their questionable activities.

Gary was born prematurely while his mother was visiting Idaho on July 15th, 1940. He was put into a chicken incubator, and not expected to live. He did, and although a sickly child, he thrived. Gary told stories about growing up in Eugene that made the town come alive for his listeners. His ironic sense of humor came out as he remembered his friends, and he often told stories on them. He had three children, Greg, Darren and Cindy, whom he adored.

He served with distinction in the Marines, in Vietnam, and on tiny Midway Island where he survived a tsunami and hurricane. While stationed in Southern California, Gary earned a BFA degree in music from the School of Arts and Crafts. He worked as a techie for the Grateful Dead and associated with the Merry Pranksters.

Gary developed his sculptural talents modeling plastic horses for the Breyer Company. He began working at Lane Community College in 1969, shortly after The Big Snow left the Eugene area immobilized. The campus shut down, and he and others were stranded for several days. They kept the corded switchboard operating and shoveled tons of snow off the flat roofs. Gary was promoted to Graveyard Custodial Manager and began spending time in the Art Department developing his artistic focus.

Early in the 1980s he developed brain tumors and epilepsy. After ten years of treatment in Portland he was cured. Gary then returned to the LCC Art Department, and began producing sculptural art in earnest. He was chosen to produce a bucking bronco for the Eugene Rodeo, a flying Pegasus for the LCC campus, and pieces for the Springfield and Eugene libraries. His favorite work was the contemporary, often humorous sculpture he exhibited across Oregon and California. Gary also built and repaired firearms at The Gun Works in Springfield.

Gary had close and enduring personal relationships with two generations of faculty and students in the LCC Art Department, and volunteered years of evenings in the sculpture lab. He will be deeply missed by all who loved him. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, December 6th, at Asbury Methodist Church in Eugene.Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy