Gary "Skip" Whitmire

Former Grants Pass resident, Gary “Skip” Whitmire, age 64, of Medford, died May 15, 2018 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.

Gary was born August 23, 1953 in Murphy, Oregon, grew up in Grants Pass, and graduated from GPHS in 1971. At a young age he and his brothers, Larry and Jay, dedicated their lives to the Lord and grew up reading the Daily Bread each morning. This strong faith carried Gary through his life with grace and strength.

He went to college at Southern Oregon State College, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. During the summer months he fought forest fires for Oregon Department of Forestry. Upon graduation from college he became a Labor Foreman on a precommercial thinning crew with ODF. In 1977 he went to work for Evergreen Federal Savings and Loan and became the Roseburg Branch Manager until he quit and went back to Oregon State Forestry in Medford as a Communication Administrator and Fire Prevention Officer. In 1978 he married Jennifer Geiske and was blessed with twin daughters, Kara and Brittany. In 1990 he was promoted to Salem as a Program Director administering: purchasing, contracting, and risk management. He was active with the state legislature concerning his Programs. He was later assigned the Payroll Program for the entire agency. While a Program Manager he was on a State Fire Team working as a Situation Unit Leader. During this time, he developed a firefighting crew contract and an equipment contract to help agencies get men and equipment on fires where they were hard to find. This was later adopted by other states throughout the United States. He retired in October 31, 1997 due to Multiple Sclerosis.

While living in Grants Pass, he started a singles group at First Baptist Church. He was also involved with In Touch ministry, led Bible Studies and was a diligent prayer warrior. He lived at the Bridge in Grants Pass for many years and was known as “Pastor” Skip to many of the people he ministered to. Gary later moved to Ridgeview in Medford where he participated in Bible studies and was faithful in attendance at Rogue Valley Fellowship. Gary was an avid reader and enjoyed computers, photography, bow hunting and rifle hunting, glass etching and scrimshaw.

The family would like to offer special thanks to the staff at both the Bridge and Ridgeview along with many caregivers who assisted him over the years.

Gary is survived by twin daughters, Kara and Brittany; brother, Larry Whitmire; his mother, Almeda Whitmire and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Earl “Bud” Whitmire and brother, Jay Whitmire.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 3, 2018 at River Valley Church-Downtown. Private interment will be held at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations in his honor to Rogue Valley Fellowship, The Daily Bread or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.