Gary Ralph Bond
Posted: Sunday, January 31, 2016 12:00 am

"Gary Bond has moved on and will be starting a new strip in another realm. I hope the timber stands there are big, straight, tall and sound - just like Gary - when he stood on this Earth. I hope that the ground is gently sloping with good long lays for that big wood he will be putting down on it. But, I suspect that he will go out of his way to find the toughest part of the strip to open up and leave the gravy and easy pickin's for those of us who will be following him along in due time."
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, Gary Ralph Bond passed away at Tri-State Memorial Hospital. Gary was born April 15, 1942, in Lewiston, to Ralph and Hazel (Snyder) Bond.
Gary was raised on a farm near Lenore. He attended school in Lapwai until his senior year, when he transferred to Lewiston High School. Those many years living and going to school on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation gave him knowledge and background on the Nez Perce's way of life that gave him the inspiration for his books. Immediately following graduation from high school, Gary joined the U.S. Army Reserves and reported to basic training in Georgia. Upon his return, he married Connie Little in December 1960, and they made their home in Clarkston. They had four children, Lori, Brian, Dave and Curt. The marriage later ended in divorce. Gary subsequently married Patti Reece, then Jenny Chicarelli, and Di Utgaard; they all ended in divorce.
Gary was a very intelligent and talented man, working various jobs throughout his life - from being a mechanic on race cars in California, gold mining in South America, to owning a gas station in Midvale, Idaho. Mainly though, Gary was a forester for most of his career. He was a sawyer in Pierce for more than 25 years. Later in life, he worked for Columbia Vista and finished there as general manager. After leaving Columbia Vista, he opened his own company as a consulting forester and mainly pursued helicopter logging while working throughout the Northwest.
He retired at age 63 and moved to Winchester, where he began his writing career. He wrote and published three books, with a fourth book in the works when he passed.
Gary loved history and the forests; all of his books were historical fiction. He was extremely proud of his lineage and heritage. While retired, he was working on his genealogy, tracing his family roots in Missouri and West Virginia to out West. His parents were early homesteaders on Crystal Creek and he was a master storyteller of historical family life events with his children and grandchildren. The annual dove hunting trip he took with his sons and grandsons to southern Idaho the first of September was a highlight every year, and they always started planning it at least five months in advance. He was very civic-minded and followed our national and local politics avidly (vote Republican). While living in Pierce, he served on the city council and ran for mayor.
Gary is survived by his daughter, Lori DeCicio of Spokane; and granddaughter Katie Underhill and her husband, Rick, of Batavia, N.Y.; grandsons Drew Snow and his wife, Brandi, and Nathan Snow of Spokane; son Brian Decicio of Riverton, Wyo.; and grandsons Jonathan, Jimmy and Joey Decicio of Sacramento, Calif., Matthew Brunelle and his wife, Karissa, of Auburn, Wash., Zachary Decicio of Riverton, Wyo.; and granddaughter Jennifer Marshall and her husband, Caleb, of Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan; son Dave Bond and his wife, Amy, of Lewiston; grandsons Thomas Webb and his wife, Trina of Reno, Nev.; granddaughter Afton Bond and her husband, Zac Ankney, of Lewiston; and grandson Tanner Bond of Lewiston; son Curt Decicio of Juliaetta; and grandson Brendan Decicio of Provo, Utah. He is also survived by his sisters, Jeannie Himmelright and Riva Bursch, and her husband, Gene, all of Spokane; as well as six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Hazel Bond; and sister Edna Foss.
Gary is also survived by his faithful canine companion, Maggie.
Gary requested that no formal services be held, but having a celebration of life would be acceptable. The family will have this celebration starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Lewiston. It will be a covered-dish dinner of food and stories. Any memorials may be sent to Helping Hands in Lewiston in Gary's name. Please sign online guest book at www.malcomsfuneralhome.com.
"He left a legacy that will become a shared memory with those who have gone before him."
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