Bharat Timothy "BT" Gael, 69, of Anacortes, Washington passed away peacefully on May 9, 2021, surrounded by his loving family, after a 16-month battle with brain cancer. Bharat Timothy is survived by his beloved wife, "Mieke" Maria Eugenie (Casselman) Gael, to whom he was married for 42 years, and daughters, Sarah and Lindsey Gael.

BT is best remembered for his bright mind, insatiable curiosity (the man read the encyclopedia for fun!), strong determination, and wicked sense of humor and mischief. His dignified and zen-like approach to life was wonderfully balanced by his adventurous spirit. Our world has lost a special one, but BT remains alive and burning bright in our hearts.

Born Timothy Lawrence Gael, to Geraldine Gayle (née Moss) and Thomas Foley Gayle in Gueydan, Louisiana, he was number 5 of 12 brothers and sisters on the family farm. The frequent and playful instigator of pranks and practical jokes at his siblings' expense, BT brought a lighthearted and curious attitude to all of his pursuits from a young age. The stories of his pranks are too many to tell but some of the family favorites include lizard earrings, the bow and arrow bravery test, and pyrotechnic fun with the gas valve in the bedroom. In high school BT was active in theatre, lead singer of a high school band (The Ravens), athlete, top student, and allegedly, quite the heartthrob.

A voracious learner, BT earned a bachelor's degree in Botany at LSU and then went on to earn graduate degrees at the University of Florida in Environmental Engineering, LSU in Petroleum Engineering, and an MBA from UCLA. In his graduate program at LSU he met a smart, vivacious Flemish woman named Mieke who he would go on to marry. His 20s were a time of learning, spiritual exploration, and adventure. In the late '70s he traveled to India where he studied Siddha yoga meditation; this practice and its principles formed the cornerstone of much of BT's philosophies. In between his various studies, BT got into all kinds of wild outdoor adventures (and misadventures), including a particularly epic multi-month canoe trip through remote sections of the Canadian Rockies.

BT had a long and successful career at Chevron and during his three-decade tenure, he delighted in living and working internationally. In Sumatra, Indonesia, BT was a committed member of the Duri Hash House Harriers and played guitar and sang Beatles tunes at the Catholic mass that was held in the local village. In Kazakhstan, where he served as General Manager of Capital Projects, he endeared himself to tough-guy politicians with his quick wit and even keel. For a man who often said "There's always time to be safe," it's no surprise that he treated his Chevron colleagues with great care and respect.

BT retired to beautiful Anacortes in 2013, where he eagerly explored the surrounding natural landscape, frequently hiking in the North Cascades or going for long bike rides with Mieke. He also loved the annual "Macho Man" trips to the Adirondacks in deep winter to test his spirit and share many laughs with friends new and old.

In his passing, we think BT would want to leave us with the following wisdom:

"To thine own self be true" and "God dwells within you as you"

A private virtual memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 16. A Celebration of Life will be organized for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in BT's memory to PRASAD  (https://www.prasad.org)  , Doctors without Borders (  https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org  ), or Anacortes Community Forest Lands  (https://www.friendsoftheacfl.org  ).