Gary Paul Tarr

Gary was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, on December 2, 1948. He was raised on the family farm in Craven, alongside his four siblings, and then attended the University of Regina to pursue an education degree. After graduation, Gary taught at Avonlea where he married his first wife, Deborah in 1970. Together they moved around the province, from Punnichy, Parry, Kronau, and finally put down roots in Elrose in 1975. Gary taught at Elrose Composite School and the Kyle Hutterite Colony until his retirement. After retirement, Gary met his second wife, Lyn, and soon moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where they were married in 2000. Once Lyn retired, they moved to Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, and later to Delmas, Saskatchewan, where they lived together until Lyn’s passing in 2018. Gary remained in Delmas, Saskatchewan, until he passed away on March 2, 2021.

Gary was predeceased by his parents: Walter (2010) and Anna (2016) Tarr; infant sister, Eileen, his second wife, Lyn (2018), and his daughter-in-law, Francine (2019).

Left to cherish Gary’s memory are his children: Ken (Linda) Tarr, Dennis Tarr, Devin (Buffie) Tarr, and Curtis Tarr; grandchildren: Joseph, Anna, Alexis, Travis, Eva, Terry, Madison, and Jessica; brother Ron (Beth) Tarr, sisters: Gaye (Keith) Jane, AnnJoy (Barry) Bowns, and RoseMarie Nielson (David Wright); as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Gary will forever be remembered as a kindhearted, generous, and charitable man who went out of his way to help friends and family. He was very personable and would talk your ear off for hours, whether he knew you for years or he just met you in line at the grocery store.

Gary’s zest for life led to many hobbies and interests. He was very handy, tackled any home renovation job, and had any tool you could imagine - oftentimes, more than one of them. He was so enthusiastic about starting the next project that he often had many projects on the go at the same time. He was very involved in Scouts Canada, attending national conventions, and leading groups for many years. He had a love of fishing, hunting, and camping, and led kids and adults from around the province on northern canoe trips that often lasted weeks. “Take everything but the kitchen sink,” didn’t apply to Gary as he even made a mobile kitchen sink for camping. The Masons was another one of his passions, and his boys would often nickname him the “Grand Poobah.”

As busy as he kept himself, Gary always made time for friends and family, scattered throughout Canada and the United States, who will miss him dearly.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Vanessa Macnab of Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium.