Gary Durell Griswold

Gary Durrell Griswold, a great husband, father, and talented artist, left this world peacefully on May 10, 2024, after a valiant battle with several illnesses and injuries.

The date was marked by a rare appearance of the Northern Lights over the Puget Sound region leaving some who knew him wondering if he was leaving us one final painting in the sky.

Gary was born on January 9, 1943, in Tacoma, Washington to Blois “Duke” Merriam and Helen (Southwell). His father was a WWII bomber pilot in the European stage. In his father’s absence, his grandfather, George (Papa) Southwell, became an inspiring father figure in Gary’s life. He often shared warm memories of his grandparents, Papa and Kina, and a bright red Schwinn given to him by his grandfather who owned a bike shop.

Gary’s parents divorced when he was 4 years old, and later he was adopted by his mother’s husband, Larry Griswold. Larry was also a pilot and pioneer executive in the FAA. Because of Larry’s career, the family spent several years in the Washington D.C area, and various air force bases. It was only natural that aviation (especially military) and history became lifelong interests for Gary,

Gary attended a myriad of schools, in Washington, Virginia and California. He had many recollections of his years spent in Virginia, and basketball shorts that were far too big for his skinny frame. He also fondly remembered the camaraderie of his teen club. During his school years, he excelled in music and was the first clarinet chair in his school bands. In high school, his lifelong interest in music continued to grow, and he was a singer and guitar player in a talented garage band. He was in the first class to graduate from Wilson High School in Tacoma.

Gary’s dear Uncle Roy and Aunt Ruth Stalcup owned a marina in Olympia. Gary worked there in his senior year. This may have been where Gary’s love of boating and water began.

After graduation, Gary joined the United States Air Force. He was assigned to the base in Mountain Home, Idaho. At first, he was employed in a unit that was loading bombs onto airplanes, but he cross-trained and became an illustrator/graphic artist. He was recognized by his commanding officers for his “artistic ingenuity” in producing charts and graphs for military and congressional briefings. Even then, he was inspired to study and improve his artistic talents. He was acknowledged to be an “outstanding airman”.

After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he attended L.A. City College. Over the years, he studied at UCLA and San Francisco Art Institute, and studied watercolor under master painter, Jerry Stitt and others.

He worked in L.A. for about a decade, as an illustrator and as a marketing representative. He enjoyed trips to the nearby desert and ghost towns, fostering an interest in antiques and old things. His northwest roots inspired his interest in sailing, and he actually lived on his boat anchored in Marina del Rey for a time.

In 1975, he returned to the Pacific Northwest and enjoyed successful careers in Seattle as an office furniture salesman, real estate and leasing agent. His empathy with both the building owner and the

tenant enabled him to help them negotiate beneficial agreements. His interest in the world of art never waned, and he was one of the creators of the concept of an artist village in Seattle’s Pioneer Square, as he was one of the first to turn empty spaces in an old building into lofts for artists. During this time, he reunited with his birth father and built new relationships with his father’s second family.

Gary was an avid fisherman and boating enthusiast. He spent many years single-handedly restoring classic wooden 1940 speedboats that he’d take out on the water at Genessee Park in Seattle near the family’s home. This was also the site of Seafair, an annual tradition for Gary and family for decades. “The hydros are pounding” he’d call at the first sounds of the pistons (and turbines) out on Lake Washington.

Gary’s boating interests also extended to model ships. He was a model Shipwright He designed, built, restored, and repaired the small craft for private owners and museums. His love of models also included cars and aircraft. He built and sailed model ships, boats, hydroplanes, and airplanes. He made hundreds of balsa model airplanes which flew in a perpetual battle on the ceiling of his studio.

Gary was a creative man of many passions. He became a 10-handicap golfer, enjoyed powerboating on Puget Sound, and fishing, especially salmon and flyfishing. He was an indulgent, caring pet owner. He was enthralled with the engineering and beauty of vintage sports cars, especially his collectible Jaquar; and he enjoyed cruising around town in it. He loved nature, finding special joy in the pacific northwest coast. Of all his hobbies, his greatest interest was watercolor painting. He painted scenes from the northwest and his travels for decades. He specialized in seascapes but also captured images of ghost towns, Old Faithful, and the ruins of Pompeii on family adventures. . Gary enjoyed sharing the joy of his interests, by helping others as they endeavored to participate in these activities.

After retirement, Gary and Mary Pat moved to Port Hadlock. He nicknamed this part of the Olympic Peninsula “Paradise”. He became involved in the antique market and began a second career as a professional artist and watercolor instructor. He was a member and volunteer in several art societies, and a signing member of the Northwest Watercolor Society, and PRIMA. He served as the art director at the Port Townsend Aero Museum. He was respected as one of the finer water color artists in the pacific northwest, and one of the best model shipwrights in the country.

While he was passionately “into” his many interests, family was Gary’s greatest love. He was a totally dedicated loving son, husband and perhaps especially father and grandfather. He was a very active father. He was a great cheerleader at hundreds of soccer games his daughter, Jamie, played. He introduced her to antiquing, Goodwill shopping, fishing, and hobby shows. He also brought his grandsons into his hobbies bringing art projects or model kits over almost every visit.

Gary was a uniquely talented, patriotic, kind, gentle, and extremely generous person. He had a wonderful dry sense of humor and was a delightful companion. While he was always “his own man”, he was also very definitely ours. His family hopes to carry with them his unique gentleness of spirit and the sweet love and caring he shared with them.

Gary is survived by his wife, Mary Pat Griswold; daughter, Jamie Marie Skorheim and son-in-law Jake Skorheim and four grandsons. Also surviving, his brother Steve (Debi) Merriam, his sisters: Cammy Merriam, Claire Merriam, and Laura Merriam, and sisters-in-law Suzanne Tiddy, and Marnie Tiddy, cousins Cheryl Jacobson and Blair Stalcup, as well as several nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents.

If you would like to see some of Gary’s paintings, follow this link:  https://garygriswold.com/

In lieu of flowers, if you’d like, please make a donation to your favorite children's, veteran, or animal charity.