Gary (Gerhardt) Charles Roats of Anacortes, WA died Saturday 24 February 2024 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham,WA following an unexpected illness. He was 84.

Gary was born 9 June 1939, at Waldo Hospital in Seattle,WA to Audrey (Colgrove) and John Roats. He was a lifelong resident of the Seattle area.

During his early education he attended catholic schools where he was an altar/choir boy, and it was there that he acquired his appreciation for the notes of music and the English language. He then transferred to Roosevelt High School where he focused on his academic studies allowing him to graduate a year early in1956.

After high school, he attended the University of Washington where he pledged the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. While in college he met Janet G. Finley while working as a house boy at her sorority and they were married in 1958. He graduated in 1960 and they started their family and had four children-Brad, Brian, Suzy and Richard.

After college, Gary joined the United States Marine Corps in 1960 as a commissioned officer and served his country honorably. He loved his fellow Marines and he maintained and strengthened his friendships with them by attending reunions that were held regularly at Quantico, VA. He also displayed his love for the Marines by owning three different bulldogs (the Marine Mascot) and naming them Sarge, Major and Sherman. He also co-owned a Chris Craft Cruiser that was named Semper Fi. They traveled many summers up into the waters of Canada, anchoring in small bays catching and eating fresh seafood consisting of salmon, shrimp, oysters and clams.

Gary raised his family to have a strong work ethic and to enjoy life. Their yard at the Innis Arden home was like a golf course. Many weekends were spent mowing, watering, weeding and planting the many flowers that were grown in the large greenhouse by his father, Grampa John. Every year during the spring and summer he took the family camping at Lake Chopaka and Icicle Creek where they honed their skills at fly fishing. He was the master camp chef and would cook fabulous meals in the infamous fry pan that could hold dozens of eggs and bacon at the same time. After a large breakfast, the family was off to fly fish and/or hike up Chopaka Mountain, working up a large appetite to be satisfied by his huge dinners cooked over a campfire. In the winter every weekend was spent driving the family to Wenatchee to stay at the Mertes' house and then spending the weekend at Mission Ridge where his kids learned to ski and race with Buddy Warner while he was teaching ski school and just enjoying the mountain. After a long day of skiing, the family enjoyed dinners together with the Mertes'.

Gary joined Touche Ross and Co. in 1964 as a CPA, leaving in 1966 to join Chris Berg Inc. (Pacific Rim Construction). He returned to Touche Ross in 1967 and became a partner in September 1971. He maintained lifelong friendships with many of his work colleagues.

In 1976 Gary helped purchase and manage The Hansen Baking Co. with Brad Hill. In November of 1984, Mick McHugh, restauranteur and tenant (dba Jake O'Shaughnessy's) of the Hansen Baking Company, asked Pam and Gary Roats, to join him and other guests to travel to France to pick up the annual release of new-vintage George DuBoeuf Beaujolais wine. It was dubbed the Beaujolais Express and flew the guests on a British Airways CONCORDE supersonic airliner from London to Boeing Field. In addition to the fantastic food served, all the guests got to experience Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound) and reached an altitude of 50,000 feet. During this time he was also a CPA Expert Witness working for attorney's representing construction claims. Gary excelled in this field of work winning almost every case that he was retained as an expert.

In 1983, Gary married Pam, his wife for 40 joyous years. During those years they bought many different houses together, most of which they remodeled. He was the brawn and she was the decorating queen. He grew to love her flare for color. Two of the houses they bought are on Blakely Island in the San Juan Islands and require a boat or an airplane to access. That was no problem for them because Gary was an avid pilot who encouraged Pam to become a pilot also. In fact, they bought a Lake Amphibian in LaConia, NH and Gary and Pam flew back east to pick it up and flew it home to Seattle. Another interesting fact, Gary got his helicopter license in his 70's. A difficult task at any age, an amazing accomplishment in your 70's! If the weather wasn't good for flying to Blakely, Gary was also a skilled boater. While on Blakely, they spent numerous hours remodeling the houses and using Gary's master gardening skills to turn the gardens into works of art that include a working waterfall and pond with Koi, a fruit orchard, an outdoor fireplace and landscaping equivalent to the Arboretum. Their 1906 primary house that they purchased in 2017 in Anacortes was extensively remodeled inside and out and the yard was redone with new landscaping that they designed. In 2022 their gorgeous gardens were chosen to be in the prestigious Anacortes garden tour.

Gary loved his wife, his family, his friends and his dogs. He was a true and loyal friend and his wit and wisdom will be missed by all who knew him.

Gary is survived by his wife and best friend of 40 years, Pamela Anne Roats; sons Brad(Anna), Brian, Richard, daughter Suzy (Erik Borgen), grandchildren; Christopher (Missy), Matthew Borgen, Kinley Roats, great grandchildren; Logan, Willow, Ariya, Abbott, Gannon, Everly, (Aubrey) Borgen, nephew; Gregory (Woodleigh), nieces; Maia and Tania.

To share memories of Gary and to check for updates, please bookmark this direct link, www.evanschapel.com/obituary/gary-roats.