Gary Lawrence Demastrie

Gary Lawrence DeMastrie, a kind and generous soul, returned to the Great Cosmic Soup on November 6, 2023, at 76 years old. Gare Dude’s loved ones will understand how difficult it is to encapsulate him—you really had to experience him live—but here is a valiant attempt. Gary was born on March 2, 1947, in North Adams, Massachusetts. At nineteen, he enlisted in the Navy, while his good buddies Joe and Russ joined the Marine Corps. After serving in the Vietnam War, he began a cross-country drive back home from San Diego, California, but only made it as far as Utah (he always said he was “just passing through”). He married and had his kids, Dawn, Stacia, and Tony. His second wife, Lynette, died of breast cancer in 1993, making him Mr. Mom to his boys Danny and Sam, a role he took seriously and excelled at. He and Martha met later in life and were finally married on December 26, 2022. He was full of idiosyncrasies and an endless stream of dad jokes repeated so frequently throughout the years that they became part of his regular vernacular. He was a self-described carnivore with a legendary salt addiction (and no, it wasn't a heart attack that finally got him). He had an adventurous spirit and a passionate interest in archaeology and the great outdoors, often hauling his kids around in the summer to camp in the desert (“Eastering”) and explore Native American ruins. A lifelong bookworm, he loved reading Stephen King and Louis L’Amour, though his favorite book was Wyvern, by A. A. Attanasio. A hot cup of coffee in the morning was an absolute necessity, and he loved Circus Peanuts, Necco Wafers, and coffee-flavored ice cream (who doesn’t?). In the last few years of his life, when his age and health started catching up with him, he took an interest in jigsaw puzzles and his favorite TV shows: Family Feud, Antiques Roadshow, and Battle Bots. As soon as he got out of the Navy, he grew his hair to his shoulders and started listening to outlaw country music from the likes of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. He passed his musical sensibilities on to his kids. He is survived by his wife, Martha, her two kids, Sarah and Scott; his sister, Cynthia; and five children: Dawn (Ron), Stacia (Zach), Tony, Daniel (Anissa), and Samuel. He was also “Papa” to a gaggle of grandkids: Wesley, Ciarra, Aubrie, Ian, Ben, Alivia, Bowie, Simon, Jasper “Spur,” and Birdie. And a couple of great-grandkids, Aurora and Atreyu. His second wife, Lynette, and his sister, Madeline, preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, listen to Rocky Mountain High by John Denver (his favorite song) and drink a Bud Light. What did Gary mean to you? Please send your favorite stories to Garydemastriememories@gmail.com. Gawd, get me a beer!