MT. ANGEL- Gary Leo Traeger passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2019 surrounded by his family. He had battled tongue cancer for nearly 2 years. Gary was determined to attack his disease his own way, and he did just that. He never gave up, but simply ran out of time. Gary valued eating organic, Vegan, non-GMO, natural foods and had strong convictions about his body and health.

Gary was the only son of Leo & Betty Traeger of Mt. Angel .  He was profoundly deaf, and started school at the Oregon State School for the Deaf(OSSD) in Salem, at 3 years old. He played basketball and football on the OSSD teams.  Following high school graduation in 1975, Gary started college at Gallaudet University in Washington , DC , the nation's only college specifically for deaf students.

He was married briefly to Cassandra Oakes. But their marriage ended in divorce.

Gary worked for 18 years as a welder, making Traeger Barbeques. Reading was a passion, as well as gardening, hard work, recycling, and conservation.  He never saw the boundaries the rest of us did.   If there was a problem he took care of it, whether it was on his property or someone else's.  He was eager to reach out to his friends and neighbors and help with anything they needed. His maroon pick-up truck was seen all over town, picking up pine needles, discarded Christmas trees, broken concrete and branches. He created a botanical garden all around his house with various kinds of bamboo and plants creating a "poor man's fence" making his house entirely invisible from the outside. When at home, he valued his privacy to the utmost.

He was entirely practical about all decisions; he never let fashion or popularity guide his choices. He wore clothes for comfort and utility.

Gary loved his family, God and community. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Leo Traeger, and his sister Joanie Traeger. His is survived by his mother Betty Traeger of Mt. Angel , sisters Teresa (Ron) Bryant, Marilyn (Jim) Hall, Rosie (Dan) Wilgus, and Annie (Pete) GrosJacques, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be Thursday, May 30, 2019 , at 11:00am at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mt. Angel . Interment following funeral at Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Angel .  Arrangements a