Gary Graham

1942 - 2021

Gary Dean Graham May 20, 2021 Gary Dean Graham, Age 78 died on May 20, 2021. He was born on September 9, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. Devoted husband to Anna Lowery. Loving father of daughter Laura (Ryp) Walters and grandchildren Dylan, Dawson, Jordan and Zoe. Loving father of son Stephen Graham and grandchildren Kashlynn (Shane) Knowlton, Tyler and Ryan and great-grandson James. Dear friend of Scott Saari who he loved like family. He was predeceased by his son Laurence Donovan "Don" Graham, his parents (Dorothy Hopkins Graham and Clarence Graham), his sister Gwen and many other relatives. Gary was a talented, creative, brilliant human with a heart of gold. He started working at an incredibly young age (delivering newspapers and doing odd and end jobs) to put himself through school at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He first worked in the car industry for Ford Motor Company and went on to use his engineering skills to design and develop container systems that transformed the industry. He raised his family is Upper St. Clair, PA where he made dear friends that lasted his lifetime and became a forever Steeler fan. Gary started building model airplanes from wood with his dad as child. Always having a knack for tinkering, building things and woodworking Gary became a master craftsman and artisan in the segmented and open wood turning discipline. His masterpieces are brilliantly designed in every aspect of every detail. He loved to learn, to teach and to grow through his passion and made amazing friends in the woodworking community. He was always up to a challenge and loved the process of "figuring out how to do it." He won many awards for his master skills and works of art. Above all, Gary loved his family. He was dedicated to his children. He coached their little league teams, went on the scout camping trips and was involved in the church youth groups. He taught them to fish, to camp, to grill, to build forts, to pack a station wagon to full capacity for a super long road trip, to garden, to be fair when playing games, to give more than they take, to be honest and to be kind. He held family game nights, family poetry nights and was a fan of neighborhood gatherings. He adored his wife, Anna, and cherished all the time they spent together building memories that will live on in family and friendship stories forever. He also loved his cat, the cat that chose him Kosmo. Gary will be missed beyond measure by many. Services to celebrate his life will be in the fall. Donations can be made in his memory to The American Association of Woodturners.