Obituary of Gary Soper

Gary Wayne Soper (aka Rags) Gary was born in Elma to Wayne and Shirley (Fredrickson) Soper on June 12th, 1945. Wayne returned home 2 months later in time to celebrate V-J day with Shirley and Gary in Bremerton. Gary traveled with his mom by train in February of 1946 to Michigan but got stuck in Fargo due to the intense blizzard. It took 2 days to dig them out but luckily their car had heat while Shirley survived on Almond Roca… Wayne was waiting in Chicago and once they arrived he whisked them away to Dearborn Michigan. They stayed in Dearborn for 7 years where Gary began elementary school. In 1950 a sister Wendy was born but lived only a few days. In April 1952 his brother Kevin was born in Detroit and soon after the family moved to Olympia. In December 1953 his first sister Heidi was born. In February 1954 they packed up and moved back to Michigan to look after Gary’s Grandmother. In the summer of 1954 the family moved once again, this time to Peru Indiana where Wayne bought a dry cleaning place – Tip Top Cleaners. When Gary was old enough he helped his father there. Wayne and his brother Richard had a deep love for the Indianapolis 500 race and went to watch it every year. One year they brought Gary and his cousin Gordy to the race but only bought 2 tickets. After the race began, Wayne came back to the car to sneak the boys in. They were walking up to the usher hoping to slip past when someone shouted “Hey, there’s James Garner!” and during the commotion they snuck through. Though they continued to live in Peru, in June 1956 his brother Scott was born in Dearborn Michigan a month late (which his mother has never let him forget). Gary went to Grant Street Elementary and then to Peru High school. In August 1957 sister Laura was born in Peru General Hospital. 1960 found the family on the move again, this time back to Olympia where Gary attended Olympia (William Winlock Miller) High. This is where he met George Barner and began a life-long friendship. It was at Oly High that Gary also met Barbara Richards while he worked at Irv Hill’s Texaco station at the top of Harrison hill. In November of 1963 brother Kent was born in Olympia at the old St. Peters hospital. Gary Married Barb in 1964 after she graduated from high school. Later in 1964 they had daughter Terri and in 1965 son Sean. It was during this period Gary began working for the US Postal Service. Gary also worked part time at McGee’s service station in Lacey. In October of 1971 Gary married Sue Comer in Elma and during that marriage adopted her daughter Tracey. At nearly the same time, sister Alison was one of the first babies born in the new St. Peters hospital. In 1988 Gary married Kristi Yearian, where Gary developed a close relationship with her son Jason. Gary always considered Jason as his best friend and talked on a regular basis. During their marriage, Kristi traveled with Gary to Indianapolis to watch the 500 race. After he and Kristi were divorced, Gary would remain single for the rest of his life, delivering mail in Olympia and Lacey, then at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, and finally Steilacoom where he loved the people and the view. Gary’s father Wayne passed away in September 2003 in Portland Oregon. The last few months of his service Gary was working out of the Lakewood branch but still delivering to his much loved customers in Steilacoom. Gary had many friends in his life. For the last years of his life he roomed with his close friend Alvin Johnson (AJ). He dearly loved his Karaoke family, spending his last Thanksgiving with friend Kathy and her mother. Gary had many interests including the Indy 500, classic cars (being a member in the Olympia Street Rod Association), the Mariners (a season ticket holder in the Kingdome), dancing, and singing Karaoke. You could always count on Gary to lead Happy Birthday! Gary was always an avid collector of cars, memorabilia, and most of all, a collector of friends. He will be missed by all his friends and by the family he leaves behind. Gary was preceeded in death by his father Wayne and his sister Wendy. He is survived by his mother Shirley Olson, his children, 7 grandchildren, Kassandra, Alexander, Kacey, Jennifer, Andrew, Kyle and Ava, 2 Great-grandchildren Mathew and Kaycee. Please leave memories and condolences for family online by clicking on "View Guestbook" below.