Geoffrey John Garcia

Geoff Garcia of Galice, Oregon passed away at his home and gold mine Sunday, May 17, 2015.

He was born in Spokane, Washington on Nov. 7, 1950. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in geology in 1973. He worked as a hard-rock silver miner in the Coeur d’Alene mining district right after graduation and started his career as a geologist working in Alaska in 1975. He married Charlotte Kautzer in 1979 after they moved to Galice from Wallace, Idaho to help some friends with a gold mine in Galice. He became enamored with the life of gold mining and has resided here ever since. He and his wife started their geologic consulting business in Oregon in 1980. His career as an exploration geologist took him all over the world: Mexico, Peru, Canada, Myanmar, and Ecuador and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Geoff had many loves. Foremost was his wife and 3 children, gold mining, flying his plane, operating his heavy equipment, riding motorcycles, bicycling, hiking, rock climbing, river rafting, skiing and sharing his extreme adventure stories with all.

He was preceded in death by his parents Al and Edmee Garcia and his brother Paul Garcia. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Charlotte, his 3 children Crystal, Emery and Amber Garcia and his sister Brenda Garcia of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

A memorial celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Thunder Ridge Ranch, 600 Taylor Creek Road, Merlin, Oregon.

Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Rogue River Institute, 12303 Galice Road, Merlin Oregon 97532.