April 23, 1947 – May 5, 2019
Gary Dean O’Brien, known by many as “B-Model”, passed away Sunday, May 5, 2019, at Olympic Medical Center at the age of 72. Gary was born in Minot, North Dakota to Lowell Willis and Betty Jean (Webster) O’Brien (late of Sweet Home, OR).
He was the second of five children. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Michael and Steven O’Brien.
Gary attended school in Sweet Home, OR, he was drafted in 1966. Gary married his high school sweetheart, Carol Emerson, in December 1966, after eight months at Camp Roberts in California, he was sent to Vietnam in 1967 as a Heavy Duty Diesel Mechanic.
Gary returned home in 1968 as a Specialist E-5. He worked two part-time jobs, at a service station and selling cookware. In 1969 he went to work for Alpine Construction Company in Thompson Falls, MT, driving lowbed, hauling equipment between Montana and Canada.
The O’Briens eventually moved to Forks where Gary went to work for Jack Edward’s Logging as a mechanic, truck boss, and log truck driver; where he got the handle “B-Model”. Around 1986 Gary went to work at Clallam Bay Corrections Center and worked there for 27 years, where he was in charge of the Automotive Department, retiring in 2013. After retirement, Gary and Carol spent the next few years being “Snowbirds” and loving it.
Gary was two times Exalted Ruler for the Forks Elks Lodge, plus serving as all other chairs. He was active in Little League football, serving as a Commissioner and assisted with coaching too.
He was always happy, was happiest when playing jokes on anyone, always had a smile and a snappy comeback. He loved working with the kids.
Gary is survived by his wife Carol of 52 years, daughter Mimi O’Brien of Beaver, Wa; significant other Glen Price Jr. Grandson Kyle (Kara) and their daughter Peyton; daughter Patty Gibson of Mt. Vernon; step-grandchildren Nathan Gibson, significant other Aislinn Anderson and their son Axel; Tonya Zeeshan Ulhag of Lexington, KY, husband Zeeshan and their son Essa; son Mike O’Brien of Sheridan OR, (step-grandchildren Cody(Ariel) Hunt, their children Haideyn, Barrett, and Ivar; Skylar (Taylor) Hunt and their children, Spencer and Ronin; and Shylo Williams (Steven) and their son Hudson.
He is also survived by siblings Debbie (Dewey) Poats of Juneau, AK, and Richard O’Brien of Port Orford, OR, also numerous nieces and nephews and father-in-law Robert Deaver of Mulino, OR.
On June 21, 2019, there will be an Honor Guard presentation for Gary at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Happy Valley, OR. On July 20, 2019, a Celebration of Life will take place at 1 p.m., at the Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Rd., Forks.
He was much loved and will be missed.
