Gary Edmund Meeuwsen

Gary Edmund Meeuwsen (August 1, 1939 - April 3, 2015)
Gary Edmund Meeuwsen, age 75, passed away unexpectedly Friday, April 3rd doing what he loved best, working on their property in Scholls, Oregon.

Gary was born in Forest Grove, Oregon on August 1, 1939 to John and Eunice Meeuwsen. He was a 1957 graduate of Forest Grove High School where he excelled in basketball. He was an active member of the Forest Grove Army Reserves and did his training at Fort Ord in California. After Gary returned from Fort Ord, he became an apprentice meat cutter at West Union Grocery Store where he met his wife Shirley while she was shopping. Gary worked as a meat cutter at Kummers in Hillsboro and Delmonte Meat Company in Portland and then spent the majority of his career working as a meat cutter and Market Manager for Albertsons for 38 years. He retired at the age of 58; however he continued to work part-time for K2 Printing for approximately 10 years and at the time of his death was working part-time for Long Bottom Coffee.

Gary's family resided in Hillsboro for 42 years before him and his wife, Shirley, moved to Scholls eight years ago. He was a member of the Active 20-30 Club. As his children were growing up, Gary enjoyed watching them participate in various sports and was an avid fan of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Green Bay Packers and Oregon Duck Football. After Gary's children graduated from high school, he and his wife Shirley were still frequent attendees of Hillsboro High School athletic events.

Gary had an incredibly strong work ethic and took pride in everything he did. He was a strong family man and was extremely proud of his wife, children and grandchildren. Gary's friends describe him as a loyal, funny, quick-witted person who enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed restoring John Deere Tractors and his '63 Dodge Dart. He had a close network of great friends and enjoyed golfing and attending social activities with them. He loved listening, dancing and singing to 50/60's and country music.

Gary had several nicknames including "Meat" by his friends, referring back to his meat cutting days and "Gilbert" given to him by his youngest granddaughter Kayla, which became his popular nickname by several of his grandchildren.

Gary is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shirley Wooldridge Meeuwsen, his sons Jeff and Ann Marie Meeuwsen of Sherwood, OR, Jay Meeuwsen and Tanya Trask of Portland, OR and his daughter, Angie Devlin-Hooper and Terry Hooper of Beaverton, OR; his eight grandchildren Kyle, Jaron and Kelsey Meeuwsen, Kayla Devlin, Amanda and Emily Hooper and Kyle and Kaiulani Alegre; his brothers Bruce and Patti Meeuwsen, Dennis and Val Meeuwsen, his sisters Joyce Sharp, Janet and Roger VanDyke, Jill and Mike Johnston; several nieces, nephews and countless wonderful friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Eldon Meeuwsen.

Little did we know that morning,
God was to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
You did not go alone.
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
You left us beautiful memories,
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you,
You are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.