Obituary of Stephen "Randy" Garay

Stephen “Randy” Garay was born June 16th, 1950, to Paul and Florence Garay. His childhood was spent in the Bay Area of California playing outdoors with his younger brother, Peter Garay. After graduation, his adventurous spirit compelled him to embark on a trip by motorcycle across the United States, into Europe, to North Africa, across the Middle East into Asia, and eventually to India where he met a seafarer who inspired him to join the U.S. Merchant Marines. Randy’s love of the wilderness motivated him to move to Benewah County and build a homestead where he was joined by his highschool sweetheart, Cathy McMahon, and married. When not away working at sea, he enjoyed raising his three children, Mariah, Alanna, and Cody, as well as working on his property, travelling with his family, playing guitar, and catching fish. Randy spent 44 years in the U.S. Merchant Marines serving as a Bosun and retired in 2012 after seeing most of the world and acquiring over 20 years of on-the-sea time. His retirement years were spent at his mother’s home in California trapping gophers, taking trips to his brother’s home in Alaska to catch salmon, and being at his own home in St. Maries hunting ducks and teaching his grandsons to fish. During this time he also enjoyed acquiring new hobbies such as earning an airplane pilot’s license, learning to play the piano, and more. He passed away at home on October 4th, 2015. He will be greatly missed and always remembered as a kind, courageous, talented, and hard-working man. He is survived by his mother, his brother, his ex-wife, his two daughters and four grandsons. A memorial service is planned for Monday October 12, 2015 at 2:00 pm at the Benewah Community Center (school house). A gathering of family and friends is to follow.