After a two-year long battle with colon cancer Gary took his last breath on Thursday, December 7th.
Son, brother, spouse, uncle, father, Poppy, friend. Gary was the 7th of 10 children born to Archie and Laverne Crago. There were 7 boys and 3 girls. Born April 19, 1947, in Ridgecrest, CA family moved to South Lake Tahoe. Spent most of his youth in the area.
At the age of 12 Gary was placed into foster care in Placerville, CA his foster mother Nona Chapman provided him with love and stability for 5 years that lasted into adulthood.
October 1967 he was drafted into the Army proudly served his county in the Demilitarized Zone in Korea. Upon completion of his tour of duty he returned to Reno, NV and went to work at the Reno Mill. Cruising down main street one night he met his future wife Netta Perdon. Gary worked as a carpenter he was gifted with his construction skills.
November 29th, 1968, Gary & Netta were married in Reno. Worked for Hamel’s cabinet shop, numerous construction companies and Incline Village building homes. Construction trade dwindled and became unemployed. September 1973 Gary packed up the family and followed his in-laws to Juneau, Alaska to find work in the construction trade, not to mention hunting and fishing out your backdoor sounded adventurous & inviting. Starting with RCA installing “White Alice” towers all over Southeast AK also built the new Court House, Spam Cam, Sealaska Building, Field House & remodels such as the Police station and major portions of the downtown wharfs.
1980 Gary, with the help of family & friends finished building 4,000+ sq. ft. family home. Was an active member of the Juneau Elks Lodge 420, Moose Lodge 700, and the Eagles. Excerpt from the Juneau Elks Bulletin in 1984 “Special thanks to Brother Gary Crago who has donated numerous hours and technical skills to this project. The brothers and ladies and children who have worked on this project have worked over 2800-man hours. The Boy Scouts honored him by naming one of the cabins “Crago” & presented him with an honorary degree. Next 30 years spent in Juneau, Alaska & upon retirement returned to Nevada in 2008 where they set up home in Dayton until his passing.
Gary and Netta travelled, played golf, and went on adventures up into the many hills surrounding them July 2016, attended the “Crago’s from the hills of Cornwall to the New Country and the Black Hills” reunion in South Dakota.
Gary is survived by his wife of 55 years, Netta, children Todd (Karinda), Tonya (Dan Stevenson) and Troy (Samantha Williams), grandchildren, Devin and Taylor Stevenson, Dylan Crago, Aristotle, Makena & Tyberius Perdon; brothers Jacque and Rickie and sisters Nadine and Cheri. Numerous nieces and nephews.
A small gathering was held at the family home. Later that week a private family viewing was held. Per his wishes Gary was cremated & his final resting place will be with family.